Legos!

We are planning to start a Lego Club for kids this fall, and are currently asking for donations of Legos from anyone willing to part with their stash. You might have seen a bit about it in our newsletter. It has been interesting overhearing the conversations resulting from people reading about it. Everyone seems delighted to hear we are planning to do it, but no one is able to give away their blocks. They say they have to keep it for the grandchildren, or they know their grown kids would be appalled that the Legos had been given away. I even heard a father talking about the Club in very enthusiastic terms, but his own Legos had been used by his kids, and although they were now older, neither the kids or the father wanted to let their Legos go.

It is fascinating what remains important to us throughout our lives. I know I kept all my Barbie dolls and clothes on the off chance I would have a daughter (and I did) so that she could play with them (and she did). I don't think she is ready to give them away even though she is out of college now. My son has a huge collection of Legos, and a bigger one of trucks. They are all safely stored somewhere since he couldn't bear to part. My husband moved frequently throughout his life and most of his treasures got lost over the years. So we haunt flea markets and antique shops on the lookout for treasured memories that he can buy back and keep close. I still have shelves of books I loved as a child that I purchased to have to share with my daughter, but this time, she wasn't interested. So I save them, dip back into them on occasion to revisit these familiar stories, and keep them - I say for my grandchildren, but it really is for me.

These tokens from our past lives bring back the happy times spent using the toy, the child's belief that we can be just like the character in the story. It keeps our personal history safe at hand, ready for whenever we need to take a moment to go there or to share with friends and family.

So, if you can pry them willingly from someone's hands, we welcome any Lego donations. We will have a club regardless of the Legos we get, don't worry. And if that inner child is interested, we could have a Lego club for adults too. Oh, and if you haven't seen it yet - go to Toys are Us here in Salem. There is an amazing life-size Lego Storm Trooper on display - well worth stopping in to see it.

Book - The Lego Book, by Daniel Lipkowitz

Book - Schroeder's collectible toys

Book - Toys and Games, by Philip Steele