The Life of a Toy

I experience holiday weekend hangovers. I need to be gradually weaned off of a holiday frame of mind...

We capped off our enjoyable holiday weekend by going to see a movie on Monday. My husband, youngest daughter, and I went to see Toy Story 3. It was funny, exciting, creative, very sweet, magical, simple and amazing, And it was rated G! I am so grateful to the people at Pixar for their innovative, imaginative, and uplifting movies. They know how to make movies that strike a chord in the collective and individual human heart. I agree with my husband that they remember what it was like to play make-believe and they still do it---so delightfully!

I think most of us can relate to the Toy Story movies. Hopefully all of us at one time in our lives has owned and loved a toy. I usually do not like all of the toys that barrage the consuming public as a result of kids movies but in the case of Toy Story it was actually appropriate and I found myself wanting those toys. Soon after the first movie came out my oldest daughter bought Rex and Slink for me for a gift---it was funny because when she bought them the clerk made some comment about my daughter buying them for a younger sibling and my daughter told her no, they're for my mom-- my daughter said the clerk looked surprised and a little confused. I couldn't help it the movie put me in a nostalgic mood.

At one point during the movie the theater went almost completely quiet and everyone in the audience-young and old-seemed to share a special moment. It was one of those chord-striking moments.--- As adults we all remember how very much we wanted to grow up and yet how hard it was to leave our childhood behind. Like growing out of a favorite shirt or pair of pajamas--we can remember how good it felt to wear them but we can't wear them comfortably ever again. That realization both bothers and excites us when we are young. When we grow older that tug-of-war of feelings is softened through reminising. During each phase of life we look for a new 'favorite shirt'---something that fits... As young children our toys are so much more than things to play with. They are our trusted companions and our fellow adventurers. They are the vehicles for our imaginations. When we are in our early teens and almost nothing fits right and almost everything is awkward our toys are something we long to play with but feel we shouldn't. When we exchange make-believe for the reality of adulthood toys come to represent the innocent and carefree elements of being a child.--- I think it is safe to assume that the majority of adults teens and toddlers in the audience all shared an appreciation for the sentimental value of a toy and the love of playing. I admit that during that special movie moment when the movie really brought that appreciation home I shed a tear or two and looking around me I don't think I was the only one.

When I was a kid I enjoyed playing with dolls (including Barbies---my Barbies went on many adventures with neighbor Barbies---swimming, to grand parties etc etc) Slinkies, Troll dolls--especially one that had gold silky hair---, and a big white stuffed bear that my sister gave me.
For my husband it was Matchbox cars, GI Joes and Tinkertoys. One of the great things about being a parent or grandparent is that you get to keep playing...

Over the years our home has been made more lively by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, been enchanted by My little Pony, had it's cute factor multiplied by Littlest Pet Shop, and has been softened and comforted by numerous stuffed cuddly friends.

I know toys are just things--defined in the dictionary as simply an object for a child play with--and over the years I have cursed them for being under my feet and they have frequently been the enemy in my various battles with clutter but yet I have inwardly cheered when finding just the right one at Christmas and winced when my children have decided to give one away that I had a particular fondness for. Toys come to life in a child's imagination and become an important part of worlds that exist because they are imagined. I remember being carried far away on the wings of my imagination. I think that pretending opens the mind and paves the way for believing...that dreams can come true---that miracles can happen.

I highly recommend going to see Toy Story 3 just for fun. I even more highly recommend having a tea party, playing dolls, or building something fantastical out of blocks, with your children (you can at least tempt your teenagers or make them do impressive eye rolling) or grandchildren.
Have fun!