I’m a sucker for vintage, especially when it’s
something straight from my childhood. I’m transported to the past, to a time I
wish I hadn’t grown so fast from. If I would have met Peter Pan, I would have
followed him anywhere.
Some of my favorite things as a child were my
stuffed animals. I also enjoyed my Fisher Price little people play sets. I
would lose myself in play as I acted out daily life with these little
friends. I had favorite story books,
puzzles, trinkets and even clothes. Because of the internet, and my great love
for flea markets, I’ve been able to collect several treasures I remember as a
child.
But there was one treasure I was never able to find
or the price on the internet was always out of reach. I wasn’t always the best student so when I
got a sticker on my homework, I was thrilled. The best stickers were the ones
you scratched and sniffed. I loved those
and coveted them. At recess we would trade our stickers like baseball cards. Thankfully
our teachers bought different kinds. At home I would carefully scratch my
stickers and let the aroma of root beer or bubblegum fill my nostrils. I was careful not to rub the image all up,
though they would eventually end up that way. Sadly they all disappeared one day after mom
cleaned my room. The teachers in Jr.
High stopped passing out stickers so all I had were the memories.
Just this week, and out of the blue, my mom sent me
a little package in the mail. I opened it in a frenzy, not sure what she had
sent me. You can only imagine the thrill I got when I dumped sheet after sheet
after sheet of these vintage scratch and sniff stickers in mint condition! Many identical to the
ones I remember as a girl! Many I wanted but didn’t get that 100% on my
spelling test. The memories flooded back. I was seven years old again. I had
pigtails and bell bottom jeans. My kitten’s name was Ashes and my best friend
was Pat Parker.
What might be garbage to one person can be a
treasure to the next. I’m grateful for those parents who didn’t throw their
children’s things away. I’m grateful that they tucked their children’s toys in
closets and attics and kept them safe from mice and dust, acting as sentinels
to precious memories. I’m grateful for those who can’t throw anything away.
Because of them, I can relive my childhood. Because of them, I have scratch and
sniff stickers again. Thanks, Mom!
