Many of us think back to memories of happy Christmas in our childhood and the many presents that we got - some that we totally longed for and others we just didn’t want (thinking of that pink bunny suit that Ralphie got from his Aunt in A Christmas Story!).
Did you have something that was at the very top of your Christmas list? That you had to make sure that you told every Santa that you happened to see, that was what you absolutely -had- to have for Christmas? Did you actually get that gift? Did it live up to your expectations?
When I was 7-8, I went through a “horse” phase, probably due to reading the Walter Farley “Stallion” books. That year, I asked Santa to bring me a horse for Christmas! Oh, I was quite serious about it too. When my parents asked me where the horse could possibly stay, I replied, “Oh, we can keep him in the garage; you can park the car in the driveway.” Mind you, I hadn’t even ever ridden a horse much less had any idea what all taking care of one would involve. Needless to say, Santa did -not- bring me a horse. But I must have gotten other gifts that were sufficient enough to take away the disappointment because I don’t remember being too put out that Santa didn’t bring me a horse.
Hope we’re going to read some good stories here folks, so hope that you’ll be willing to share. Especially ones where the gifts didn’t meet your expectations!
It was 1995, I was eight-years-old and there was only one thing I wanted that Christmas. That spiffy new video game system that had just been released. That’s right, you guessed it; the Sony Playstation. Oh how I lusted after it so. I believe that’s all I talked about through September till December of that year. How I just HAD to have one or I’d DIE.
So, Christmas morning finally comes around after what seemed an absolute eternity of waiting, and – hey, what gives! No Playstation under the tree. Those cheap bastards. I then perceeded to sulk and be proper ass for the duration of the day. However, I soon found out that my sneaky parents of mine had saved it for my birthday, on the 26th. I think my reaction upon receiving it the following day rivaled that of the infamous Nintendo 64 Kid.
Aaaaand now I leave you, as this thread has suddenly made me feel old rather melancholic. Bah, humbug.
Christmas 1966, 1967 and 1968, I really, really wanted the Corgi replica of the Batmobile from the original Batman series. I was fascinated by that vehicle. I used to draw exquisitely detailed pictures of it, in color and everything. The Corgi model was exact in every detail, and I used to just go stare at it in the window of the shop downtown that carried them. Never got it, though.
Christmas 1970, I really, really wanted The Beatles’ “Let It Be” box set. In Commonwealth countries, it was released in a limited edition box containing a plastic tray with the album on top and a coffee-table sized book of photos and dialogue from the film. My mother said, “There’s no way I’m spending $7.99 on a record,” and she didn’t do it. They go for about $500 now. Maybe more.
In about 1980, there was a spaceship toy that made spacey-sounding noises. The really cool part about it was that if you pointed the nose up, it made spaceship-going-up noises. If you pointed the nose down, it made spaceship-going-down noises. It also had the requisite lights and lasers and all that.
I was fascinated by the idea that it could tell if it was going up or down. And I was already a sci-fi space geek. I wanted that thing so bad I could hardly stand it. It was a relatively expensive toy, and my parents were going through hard times, so in reality I don’t think it was even an option. But kids don’t understand that.
The kicker was that my uncle bought one for both his son and my cousin J, both 5 years younger than me and completely oblivious to how cool that toy was. I seethed with jealousy all Christmas morning. I think uncle got me some stupid girly present.
Original Nintendo. According to my 'rents, I was distraught when it didn’t show up. Apparently, they hid it behind the stereo and forgot about it. Upon digging, it was found, and the all they had left of their son was the back of my head as I faced a permanent glow.
During the 1980s I desperately wanted a Cabbage Patch Kid. My mom tried to get me one through the catalog but of course they were sold out. That was during the time when moms were tackling each other in the stores to get them. One of my friends had probably a half dozen of them and I was so jealous. I got three of the fake ones before I finally got a real one. It’s embarrassing to look back on now, but I carried that damn doll (Bronson) everywhere. As an adult, I’ve been dying to buy one for one of my nieces, but none of them seem interested. I even saw one at the store recently that had my name, and I wanted so badly to buy it for my youngest niece (she has a habit of naming her dolls after her aunts). I even drew her name for Christmas, but she told me she wants some more Lego blocks. Sigh. Lego blocks it is.
I lusted after the giant chemistry set in the Edmund Scientific catalog.
I got the medium set and was thrilled for many months stinking up the basement with fumes.
For three or four years I wanted an Easy Bake oven but my stupid mother got it in her head that it was dangerous and I NEVER GOT ONE!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:
My son has the Queasy Bake, but it’s not the same.
The one I remember most was the Star Wars AT-AT, or “Snow Walker” as we kids called 'em back then. And holy cow, I got one. Can anything beat a truly HUGE toy on Christmas day?
For a long time, I really really wanted the Barbie FriendShip. I finally got it. And the Barbie RV. You know, once all the stickers were put on and I actually PLAYED with that crap, it wadn’t all that…
I remember waking up Xmas morning, looking at the different wrapped boxes, and realizing that none were that side. I had to pretend to be happy with the rest of my presents.
I wanted a chemistry set. Too dangerous and messy - never got one. So I made my own. And mess is not the word to use. Desecration would be more apt. I was grounded for months.
There was a period of several years where what I really wanted each year was some big Lego Expert Builder (aka Technic) set. For instance, this bad boy.
I also really really wanted the computer game Wizardry, and got it.
Every year until I was around twelve I circled and starred the Barbie Dream House in the Sears catalog.
Every year I was disappointed.
My mom tried though, I give her credit now. She got me the airplane, the townhouse, some generic box that opened up to a three room house and every freakin Barbie and furniture set imaginable.
