My Very Own Boombox. Wow!! No Christmas present stands out in my mind as much as this one. It was a dual cassette, fast dub recording, am/fm radio that had detachable speakers. It was a fifth grader's dream come true, and the moment we had finished opening all the other gifts, I bolted for my room to try it out. I read the manual, pored over the multi-functions and carefully filled in the warranty form. When I couldn't wait any longer, I finally plugged it in. The first radio station I found was playing a Spanish song... I remember thinking, "This radio is SUPER hi-tech! I can pick up stations from other countries!! AWESOME!!!"
It was a few years later that it dawned on me that "Feliz Navidad" is one of the regulars on ALL the radio stations on Christmas morning, and it wasn't actually picking up signals from around the world. But that's okay, it doesn't dim the excitement of that memory. That radio was my first taste of the "grown-up" world... I spent some of the best hours of my life bent over the dial, hand poised on the record button, waiting for my favorite song to come on the radio. I recorded myself reading my poetry, singing songs, or being stupid with my friends. I made tapes for other people, I read books for my little brother and sister, I practiced songs for choir and musicals. It provided the soundtrack to my life, the drama to my tears and the silliness to my laughter. That radio followed me to highschool, through college, and finally, into my first years of marriage. It finally played it's last song just a few years ago, after ten years of faithful service. Replacing it with the newer, sleeker, cd player should have been an exciting moment... but it was hard to let it go.
So, that's my favorite Christmas present. What was yours?
Posted by Shannon at December 19, 2003 12:24 AM | TrackBackI think I may post in my blog on this subject later on today, but I will say that there are three things that come to mind. One- a kitchen table and play food- at last- I could chew on plastic frenchfries and cookies anytime I wanted without even having to ask Mom first! Secondly, my desk that I got- I felt SO grown up with that thing- lastly, this headband thing with a feather hanging from it that I got from Aunt Janet. Very cool. Very sophisticated. I actually loved all my Christmases though.
Posted by: Ashley at December 19, 2003 09:16 AMAhhh, I remember my first tape player. It was pink and beautiful. I used to record songs off the radio so I could listen over and over. Good times.
Posted by: Christin at December 19, 2003 05:24 PMI think I'd have to say Snowie. My eldest sister got a big white stuffed dog as a gift from a friend, I believe. I immediately fell in love w/ it and wanted one badly. I'd sneak a few snuggles w/ it and pet it often. He had a green and gold plaid bow around his neck and a pink velvet tongue and shaggy white fur. He was beautiful. Then a few days later, it was Christmas. I was eyeing a large, lopsided package and thinking I'd open it first. Of course, it was a great snow-white dog. I was so excited. He was MUCH prettier than Hollie's though. He looked more regal and majestic w/ his head held high. His coat looked shinier as well. I held him close to me and hardly put him down the next few days.
I have a lot of stuffed animals, and many have special memories attached to them, but Snowie will always be among the ones who mean the most. He was a good bed-time buddy.