The Girl from the Ghetto

I’ve managed to lose everything from my childhood except two hardcover books, The Black Stallion and Alice in Wonderland, my Girl Scout sash and my yearbooks.  About a month after I did it I felt really horrible, and it just keeps getting worse.  I am so mad at myself, as I held on to those things through 35 years and 22 moves.  I wanted to write a post about what I had and lost, and will hopefully have again one day.  I hope you enjoy my toy and collectible trip down memory lane.

I’ve always adored toys, books, and collectibles.  

My love has stayed with me into my adulthood, and if you take a look around my house you will find everything from Star Wars to The Beatles to a miniature Breyer Barn set. 

I had the large-scale Breyer Horses and I got rid of the entire collection.  I think I miss my Black Stallion the most. 

I had about thirty horses, all gifts given to me by relatives, which were anywhere from $25 – $50 a piece.  What an idiot I for getting rid of them.  It isn’t about the money or how much they would be worth if I sold them verses donating them, just that they were a part of who I was, girl who lived horses and the wild west.  

I used to have this chuck wagon that my horses would pull which was made of real canvas and wood.  It was really nice, and I gave that away, too.  I can’t find it anywhere, but here is the closest picture I could find of it.    

Even though I miss my horses the most, I am also furious with myself for giving away my vintage 60’s and 70’s Barbie Dolls.  I even had the original cardboard dream house.

I have always collected books, DVD’s, CD’s, albums, lunch boxes, magnets, glassware, postcards, miniatures, posters, and rock t-shirts.  I’ve gotten rid of most of them, and for the past few months I have been fantasizing about collecting all of the toys and items I grew up with.  Maybe even being lucky enough to secure the items I always wanted, but never had. 

I have spend countless hours since June searching eBay and various collectible toy websites, but never anything, mostly because I’m guilty to even spend $10 since I’ve recently lost my job.  Still, the heart wants what it wants, and I am desperate to replace the children’s books and other childhood toys I had to and these items are the gifts that I need the most. 

My Wish List:

1. All of the Little House on the Prairie books. Vintage 1975 – 1980.

2. All Judy Blume books. I only have the adult books left. Vintage 1975 – 1989. Even my most beloved copy of Superfudge that I got via the RIF program in 5th grade is gone. I bought a new one for my son, but it isn’t the same, I want the old copies.

3. My wooden and canvas chuck wagon. Vintage 1978 – 1983.

4. All of the Beatles albums. My mom has mine, and since my brother swindled $70,000 from her, I’m afraid to ask if she gave him any of the Beatles stuff to sell. Not the reissues from the 90s, but vintage 60s and 70s.

5. Any Beatles collectibles.

6. Vintage Rolling Stone Magazine circa 1972 – 1977. But, only the ones with Cameron Crowe as cover author. I’d die for the Bowie or Zeppelin covers.

7. Any special tribute magazines or newspapers that was printed the days following John Lennon’s death.

8. Any vintage rock t-shirts from the 60s – early 90s. Size Large. If it is one of those tight looking t-shirts, then XL. Not sure if 1960s Large is a 2009 large. I love the classic jersey style with the 3/4 length sleeves. I’d be in heaven if you found replacements for my Van Halen 84 & 86 tours or The Who 89.

9. Vintage t-shirts, posters, action figures, lunch boxes, pins, magnets, glassware, coffee cups, toys or misc. collectable on any of the following: The Dukes of Hazzard, Welcome Back Kotter, The Smurfs, The Facts of Life, The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, G.I. Joe, Barbie dolls, Mad Magazine, Lost in Space, Good Times, One Day at a Time, Maude, The Jeffersons, Grease, The Sound of Music, Hello Kitty, Wonder Woman, Spider Man, Snoopy, Strawberry Shortcake, Holly Hobby, Little House on the Prairie, Three’s Company, The Love Boat, Dallas, Knott’s Landing, Chips, Charlie’s Angels, Teen Wolf, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Curious George, Say Anything, Mork and Mindy, The Munsters, School House Rock, and it goes without saying – anything Star Wars, MASH, or Charlie Brown!

10. Finally, the two things I always desperately wanted, but never had – my own vintage portable record player and the large size (11 inch) Snoopy plush doll that you could dress in his own clothes. Vintage 1981.   My cousin had one and always him over to my gramma’s house.  She had all the clothes to dress him up and I coveted that damn stuffed animal more than anything in the world, even my own bike.  Yes, I never even had a bicycle until I was eighteen.  Had it for an hour before I got hit by a car at Michigan State.  But that is another story for another time.

Imagine the thought of coming home one day, and a mystery box is waiting for you.  Inside it is a gift from your past, something very hard to replace, such as the beloved Barbie Camper you had to give away quickly when you eloped and merged two homes like I did.  I hope just once I get to have that feeling. 

Tell me what you wish you still had, or always wanted to have as a child.  List anything you want, as you never know if I or someone else who reads this blog already has what you need, or has access to what you want.  If any of you real life friends or blog friends ever have the time, energy, memory, strength or funds, please feel free to surprise me with something from this list, if you are ever in need of a gift idea for me.