Christmas getaway

Just like many other Canadians, I sometimes feel like getting away at Christmastime.

By the time December rolls around I’ve had enough of global conflict, politics and the numerous other hassles that bum me out and harsh my Christmas buzz. I need to escape.

But I don’t seek out tropical locations or European hot spots. I don’t take a bus tour to Nashville, nor do I fly to destinations half way around the world. I always travel the same way and go to the same place.  During the holidays I like to go time travelling.

I travel back in time to my boyhood days when the joy and excitement of Christmas left me wide-eyed and innocent. 
Everything was magical then and everybody’s glass was half full. 

It started in late November. While we were watching our favourite cartoons, the commercials suddenly changed from selling sugary breakfast cereal to flogging the latest kids’ toys. We were mesmerized and when Christmas morning finally rolled around; it was a frenzy of anticipation.

This year I decided to take a quick time trip to Christmas past to relive those childhood memories. I came across a list of the all-time best selling kids’ Christmas toys. See if they take you back with me.

I was happy to discover that Tickle Me Elmo is high on the list.  Stuffed animals, plush toys and teddy bears have always been popular, inoffensive gifts.  Many of us learned a lot about hugs and affection by gently squeezing our favourite soft, cuddly toys.

Do you remember Beanie Babies, Barney and the Smurfs? These were among the most cherished snugglies under the tree back in the day. Who can forget the Care Bears and their TV show that introduced us to the Kingdom of Caring? I wonder if anybody still lives there.

Mom always said that little girls should get a new doll every Christmas. Many mothers shared this opinion as over the years millions of Cabbage Patch dolls were lovingly embraced by pretend moms everywhere. This continues to be one of the longest running doll lines ever.

Starting in 1959, many others were hanging out with Barbie and her friends. This curvaceous cutie was a beloved companion even if her proportions were a little out of whack. If Barbie had been a life-sized doll her measurements would have been 39-21-33. Not bad.

Many games and puzzles made the list of best-sellers including the frustrating and impossible Rubik’s Cube. Well, maybe it wasn’t entirely impossible but I did note that there is only one correct solution and about 43 quadrillion wrong ones. I am personally familiar with many of the failures.

My trip back in time takes me to the kitchen table where millions of slap-happy kids were slapping the tails of Lizzie, Henry, Homer and Harry Hippo – known collectively as the Hungry Hippos. 

It was good, clean fun even if it could be a little aggressive. I don’t remember any serious conflicts breaking out during the game although I was once gently assaulted by a stuffed, blue Smurfette. It didn’t hurt a bit and the blue fluff brushed right off.

That same kitchen table might also be home to the most played board game in history. According to Guinness, Monopoly has been played by 750 million people worldwide. That’s a lot of houses, hotels, free parking and bankruptcies. I still remember going broke on Boardwalk.

Incidentally, that little guy with the moustache and monocle on the Community Chest cards goes by the name of Rich Uncle Pennybags. 

I always thought he was laughing at me as I slowly went bankrupt.

I never had a Mr. Potato Head when I was a boy but my kids sure did and they let me play any time I wanted. When this toy first came out it came with all the accessories but the head was not included. It was intended for use with a real potato. Not suitable for baking.

The gifts I see advertised lately are very impressive, very expensive and largely electronic. Kids seem to like these gizmos and gadgets but for me, they lack the imagination and pizzazz of a simple slinky or a yo-yo. Call me old-fashioned.

I love time travelling at Christmas. I may get away for New Year’s, too. 

This year I think I’ll travel back to a time when I could actually stay awake until midnight.

Wherever and whenever your travels take you during the holidays, happy trails to all.