by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)
It’s that time of year again. A time when happy childhood memories abound. Christmas (or should I use the politically correct liberal don’t offend anyone at anytime ‘Xmas’) is about family get togethers, eating, and opening presents… at least American Christmas is.
I watched or read something years back that said that the modern form of Chrismas was a purely American creation from the 40’s or something. I can’t totally believe that cause just read Charles Dickens. There was apparently family, food, and gifts back in the day too. I guess the commercialization is what was American about it.
As far as that goes I am fine with it. Most of my happy childhood memories are about the junk I got at Christmas. That’s what kids like, getting junk. I can still remember Christmas evening in my living room playing with my spanking new Death Star Playset listening to ELO on our massive stereo cabinet in the late 70’s. I remember another Christmas when there were so many presents that they took up half the floor of the living room. I remember getting Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain for Christmas and being so content that I didn’t leave the world of He-Man for years to come.
One year I asked for the AT-AT walker from Star Wars and knew I was going to get it. I spent the proceeding two months up until Christmas playing with my Star Wars guys in a scenario that included an ‘invisible’ AT-AT walker that they had to get to turn visible so they could use it. Christmas day arrived that year and a suspicious big box was under the tree. I knew it was my fabled toy but my brother sewed seeds of doubt by saying it contained nothing but underwear for me. When I opened it I found what I desired… the Empire Strikes Back Imperial AT-AT Walker. I have the photo to prove it…
