I can’t resist playing in The Great Book of Lists, hosted by La duchesse d’Erat, with this week’s prompt being to list childhood treasures.
It’s crazy synchronistic that this challenge should pop up on my radar, as I was just thinking about some of my favorite toys.
The very first toy I remember was a fabulous bath toy – a floating whale made from glittery sparkle-encrusted transparent pink plastic. I literally still swoon when I think about it. I suspect it’s what led to my obsession with sparkle-embedded things. I’m entirely unable to resist vintage lucite buttons with the embedded glitter. Hopeless I tell you. But even more important, and this is what I find so amusing and intriguing, Whale is most definitely a totem animal for me. Of course you can skeptically write it off as I loved a toy as a child and then created a relationship, and I’m sure there’s an element in truth in that. However, how much more magical to imagine Whale found a way to make its presence known to me very early on, so I always knew I had that ally?
The second toy I adored was a battery-operated elephant covered in some sort of gray flocking. No doubt I had rubbed it bare with love by the time it disappeared from my life. Would you be surprised to know Elephant is also a beloved totem of mine?
And then there’s was the hand-me-down tin pie with slots on the top, with a little crank handle that when turned played the tune “four and twenty blackbirds” and then up popped little crows from the slots. Utterly fabulous, and of course, that began my life-long love of Crows who have proven to be most excellent friends. I occasionally see the tin pies on eBay and such, going for extravagant amounts of money, but I’ve never actually seen the model I had, which I suspect was the very first edition. It had certainly been well-loved by the time it came to me, and I added exponentially to that response as well.
I was thinking about these toys, and the later relationships I’ve developed with the animal spirits; pondering the fact that sometimes animals show up in the most unexpected ways with so many valuable things to teach us. I alluded to it in my last blog post – Rabbit has shown up as an ally for 2016. I had two dreams about rabbits last year, and so I wasn’t altogether surprised when Megan Potter did an Animal Magic reading for me a few days ago and Rabbit showed up. Given that my guiding star word for this year is Leap, it seems delightfully appropriate. What DID surprise me was to look out the window this afternoon and find a huge gray rabbit sitting in the snow- and ice-covered garden. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen rabbits in the winter here, although I spot them fairly regularly in the warmer months. But they’re always brown, and this was a gigantic gray one. I carefully tossed out some snacks for it in case it was hungry, but I think it just wanted to make a guest appearance and let me know he’s here. And so the magic begins.
What about you? Had a favorite toy? What about totem animals? What magic has shown up for you so far in 2016? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
What a fun sighting for you, Deborah! That must have put a huge smile on your face. It is curious how those things we treasured as children tend to come back to us as sacred in adult life, isn’t it? I still have some of these (in boxes – still not unpacked as the moving van showed up just before I headed out-of-state {again} for Christmas) and really do need to pull them out for memories, if not actual play time. By the way, they’re pretty much all animals ;-).
I love your observation about our childhood treasures returning as sacred in our adulthood. And how wonderful you’ve got some treasures to unpack. May 2016 hold lots of joy and play for you Nanette.
I had a beloved stuffed elephant and I nearly died of a broken heart when my mother threw her away because she was too raggedy. I was about fourteen at the time.
I had tiny ceramic tea sets and I always loved buying tea sets for my girls. I saw a set the other day in the five and dime store.
Other than that, my toys were books. I began reading at a young age and I loved being at the library, I was a member of weekly reader so I got books in the mail. I am returning to my love of readng now and it is glorious.
Oh yes, the tender heartbreak when what we love leaves us before we’re ready to relinquish it.
How fun about the tiny tea sets. I remember one, although I don’t think it was mine – I was enchanted because it was so tiny and fit into a tiny little box. Utterly magical I thought.
I loved to hang out at the library too. And I always loved summer because they instituted a special policy where you could check out some entirely decadent number of books at one time – 21 I think. My arms would break carrying them all home, but I was in heaven.
Gosh Deborah – I can’t remember my toys .. I did have “Dolly” but what happened to her I’ve no idea; my grandmother won a doll with lots of clothes and changes thereof – it was special .. but I was just too old for it. I kept her for ages .. but eventually she had to go.
I was an outdoor soul who played and rode bikes, but read masses too … this year I must read more .. cheers Hilary
I loved reading too – and I’m with you Hilary in my desire to read more this year. My reading was at an all-time low last year, and I’ve got mountains of books piled up waiting for my eyeballs.
I’m curious about the tie pin. Is this something that a gent would wear? I’m honestly having trouble picturing it with the crank and the crows popping out. Today’s tie pins are so dreadfully dull by comparison.
As for the rabbit sighting, well that is just so very special. I adore rabbits – in fact, we have one. Bonanza has lived with us for the past seven years and I’ve learned so much from her. She is a patient girl who loves nothing more than to be stroked (but not picked up) and fed timothy hay. That girl could eat timothy hay all day if allowed.
I must write the story of our orca sighting sometime soon. Thanks for reminding me of that event.
Hope you’re treated to another bunny sighting!
LOL – now you’ve got me all confused Kelly. Are you thinking of a pork pie hat from the men’s haberdashery? Or is tin pie some other kind of men’s accessory? Actually what I meant is quite literal – a toy made out of tin, shaped like an edible pie with a double crust. The perfect accompaniment to the nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Six Pence.” Make sense now?
I’d forgotten you had a dear rabbit. How fabulous. If I remember correctly you blogged about a little bunny misadventure once. I’m sure the sweet one has a tale or two to tell living in your household. And do tell the whale tale – I’d love to hear.
Hi Deborah
I think my favorite “toys” were actually books, but i do remember with fondness a potholder loom (EVERYBODY got potholders), sewing cards and watercolor tins. My favorite stuffed toy was a rabbit that had a zippered bottom and inside was a tiny rabbit and space to put my pajamas. There’s a bunny just for you. Your crow pie tin is drool worthy!
I pulled 5 animal totems for this year. 4 to study at the various seasons, winter being Scorpion which was very disappointing, as well as downright creepy. I’m sure it will have lessons and meaning but sheesh, as if. My Trickster animal for the whole year is the Honey Badger. I did not even know a Honey Badger exists. I am scratching my head over these two, but will be fun to learn more about them. I hope.
Oooh a jammies bunny with its own little bunny – how fun.
What a fabulous idea to pull seasonal animal cards. I don’t know anything about honey badgers either, except I love the name. Can’t wait to see what medicine and teachings show up for you with this one.
Thanks Deborah. When I think back to childhood I remember a pink sleepy head doll I slept with when I was young. I also enjoyed playing with my Madame Alexander doll as I got a little older. My favorite book from childhood was Heidi and I still love to read the story:)
How delightful you still read (and enjoy!) your favorite childhood book – I love that!
My family, while not poor as such, never had a lot of spare money. So one toy I remember very well was Patches, a dog made of scraps of cloth by my mom–some furry, some shiny, some scruffy. He eventually ell apart at some point.
Oh that’s a wonderful memory Scott! And quite a gift of love I imagine.
I too had books as toys! I think I played library as a child! and I’ve begun re-reading or reading for the first time children’s books – recently read A Wrinkle in Time for the first time. I remember loving my little toy piano – there are many pictures of me playing it with all seriousness. But – it is important to note – I had three aunts that taught piano, a father that restored pianos and a grandfather that tuned. Funny – in the past couple of weeks I have cleaned out my music and sat down and played the BORING finger exercises for the first times in year. I don’t remember stuffed animals – I wanted real animals – horses were boarded down the street and both my grandparents had equines (a mule and a donkey – they were farmers!) But – I’m going to have to check on the animal oracles, as I am a true animal lover – Fun post! got me going back in time! (I think I’ll add Heidi to my list as we did a skit from in in Girl Scouts – and I have Little Women downloaded)
What fun memories Vickie! How wonderful you had access to a real donkey and mule – and farms. Something this city girl only dream about.
And hooray for reading kids books. There are so many fabulous ones. Happy perusing and piano-ing.
I had a teddy bear that I loved so much, he became naked of fur, was blind because I twirled his eyes off and his nose was smooshed in because I would use him as a pillow. I wish I knew what happened to him. I had many stuffed animals and remember lining them all up on my bed and playing school with my chalkboard. I taught them math and spelling. I do still have that chalkboard. 🙂
What lovely memories Michelle, and clearly that was a well-loved teddy! Well-educated as well I see. 🙂
Since I have learned about totem animals, I find joy in searching for the meaning behind any sighting I have. How lovely that you have reaffirming signs that the rabbit is here for you in this year!
It really is a joy connecting isn’t it Elda – and knowing there is magic and support and guidance all around us!