I was thinking quite a bit about games and toys today while trying to survive another dreary day of weather here in the North East and started thinking about the last 14 years of my life (the ones that I can remember). I thought about some of my favorite toys and games through the years and wondered, "maybe I share something in common with one who did not grow up in the same generation as me." So I created this, a place where maybe one or more of you are willing to share a bit about a favorite toy from your early years.

For starters, my favorite all-time toy has got to be matchbox cars. I had a bucket full of them at one time and names for each one (which was astounding given the number of them). I remember doing different things with them: I also owned quite a few wooden blocks that I would build tracks to have the cars race down, among other things.

Going back farther in "history", actually to my first ever memory as a human being, I remember playing with a man sitting in an airplane. It was one of those cheap plastic ones where if you pushed down on the man, the airplane would roll forward. Pretty entertaining for an 18 month old, I suppose. 

My all-time favorite board game is by far and away monopoly, though I still enjoy other games and I used to favor the camels in Parcheesi, a game that I never actually played, just played with the pieces. I made up three or four different games with the units to the game, but never actually knew how to play it. I suppose that is known as “being creative”.

As for the cards, nothing stands up to blackjack. I have always loved that game, I have always been good at that game, and I hope I can make some gas money off of it later in life.

So, if you can remember, share with us: what was your favorite childhood toy/game? Why?