Toy Room, Back Again.

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 @ 11:57AM

Listen to your father, sometimes!

My dad would often overreact to some of my interests, when I was a kid.  He wanted me to take welding classes as something to fall back on if this radio thing didnt work.  Just good common sense, and I’m an okay welder now. Dont get me wrong, he was ALWAYS and still is supportive of me.  He didnt like the fact that I loved to watch Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.  He worried old Fred would make me a wuss.  He drove me to the Huish Theatre in Payson 36 nites in a row to see Star Wars, on the condition that I not tell Grandma Jackson.  She lived through The Depression and would not understand.  When dad raised concerns about Big Jim, I thought he was just being crazy.  “Its bad enough the boy plays with dolls!” (They Are Action Figures, DAD!) “But THIS one steps over the line!” It was just coming to the end of the 12” GI Joe craze that was all over the nation, and Mattel wanted in on that slice of the pie.  They came up with Big Jim and his friends.  At the time I didnt get it, but in retrospect I think dad might have been on to something.  I mean LOOK at him!  Levi shorts and a vest!  He’s a LUMBERJACK for crissake!  Ive seen guys dressed like this at the Pride Parade.  His freinds were Big Jake, Big Jeff and Big Josh!  A cowboy, an alligator wrestler and a cop!  They had playsets for camping!  Tents, jeeps, RV’s!  Barbie was a full 4 inches taller than them all, so no women in the RV!
Oh, well.  Those old GI Joes were pretty butch, too. But, now that I think about it...Cobra Commander does have quite a lisp. 

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