BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) TRAPPER KEEPERS
The old days were pretty barbaric, but we had to make do. Before every kid in school had a computer, cell phone, and ipod they had to keep their lives together somehow. A trapper keeper was a basically a fancy hardback version of a folder and a notebook. They somehow put together a three ring binder, a few folders, a notebook, a pencil case, a calculator, and plenty of room for stickers.
(THREE) TAMAGOTCHI
Those Japanese folk know their electronics. These little key chain sized devices let children pretend to have a pet or even a baby of their own. You had to press button to feed it, play with it, and basically keep it alive. The dumb things kids liked in the 90’s were awesome. I think I had one of these things for awhile, but I lost it. To be perfectly honest I think it might have been a generic version called “Giga-Pet”.
(TWO) NEON COLORS
The world isn’t drab these days or anything. There is no weird trend that is void of color, but the neon craze seems to be over. In the 80’s and even in the pre-grunge 90’s neon colors ruled the world. Think about the Saved By the Bell opening credits… the Fresh Prince opening credits… Those kinds of “wacky colors” aren’t around nearly as much as they should be anymore. I don’t want EVERYTHING to be “neon”, but some would be cool. Someone HAS to be gaudy enough to go for it.
(ONE) MY BUDDY
In 1985 Hasbro released the coolest “doll” of all time. Realistically, the “My Buddy” doll was just like any other Cabbage Patch type of doll. It was cloth, plastic, and was far from immune to crayon marks. Many think this little guy was the inspiration for the “Childs Play” movies, but I don’t buy that. What won me and many over was the catchy as hell commercial song used. I STILL know it. If you know it, sing a long!... “My Buddy! My Buddy! Where I go he goes! My Buddy! My Buddy! My Buddy and Me!” THEN they made “Kid Sister”… no thanks!
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