Take yourself back to 1978. OK, for some of you that means imagine 1978. Disco was still king, Star Wars had recently come out and blown us all away, and that Christmas I would find a wrapped copy K-Tel’s “Star Power” under the tree.
(True confession: I’m listening to this as I write)
In November of that year I turned eight. There are a few things you need to know about eight year old Todd. The first is that he was very polite. Some parents of kids growing up in small towns hear through the grapevine about the mischief their children have been getting up to. That year, though, a different message found its way back to my parents. My mom heard from her mom who lived in a neighbouring town who heard from her neighbour who heard from one of the lunch ladies at my school that: “Todd is so polite. Whenever we put any food on his tray he always says ‘Thank you.'” To this day I still try to be that good guy.
Another thing that was true then that is still true now is that I loved technology. A few years before a cousin of mine got one of the first console games you could hook to the television and I loved it. I wanted one also – and I knew which one it would be. It would be this one:
You may not be able to fully appreciate this today but in its time this felt like the future. Having one would feel like living in the future – the Star Trek future, not Logan’s Run or Soylent Green. I made sure that my parents knew that this was what I wanted. I needed nothing else because nothing else would compare to this.
Finally, my birthday arrived. My mom made me a big chocolate birthday cake on it. She brought it out while she and my dad sang Happy Birthday to me and I blew out all eight candles. That was a sign – I wished for a pong game, and candles don’t lie.
After we ate our cake, my parents brought out a wrapped box and let me know that money was a little tight that year so they could only afford one present. Even at that age, I understood. And it didn’t matter anyway because all I wanted was one present! I controlled my excitement and slowly opened the box and found…
A
Brand New
pair of sneakers.
I was gutted. But I also understood. Money was tight and I needed sneakers. There was no question about that. And so, with a huge lump in my throat, I tried really hard to smile because I really did appreciate this gift. I did need new sneakers and they were thinking of me. My voice shook a little as I said “Thank you.” to them. And then my dad snapped this photo.
And then my mom walked out of the room and came back in with another wrapped gift. It was the game after all! I was going to get to live in the future after all!
Inspired by this weeks challenge of “Birthday” at Dutch Goes the Photo.
Go Outside Today 
Loved it! Guess birthdays are all about memories as we grow …😃
Totally – that memory is almost 40 years old now and the emotions are still accessible!
Happy u can relate to it 😃
Okay, so now I’m listening to Star Power. Only, the Canadian version (TC 245) has a different cover. Thanks for triggering this, Calling Occupants by Klaatu is simply amazing.
Oh man – I’ll have to dig that one up! As an immigrant from the US, I am still discovering lots of awesome tracks from the 70’s and 80’s that never really made it across the border. It’s funny how they can still generate the same nostalgic feelings music I know from that time can and current songs trying to sound like they’re from that era just can’t.
Excellent – thanks!
What a lovely dose of nostalgia! Thank you for sharing precious birthday memories,
So glad you enjoyed it. I It took me a while to think of something for this challenge but once I did I was teleported back 40 years. It was a nice visit to a much simpler time – when the biggest sadness imaginable was getting sneakers instead of a game.
Indeed! Weren’t we funny little children?!
Aww.. How adorable! Nostalgia at its best!❤
Awww:) what a great guy who got rewarded for his brave front. I know all about small towns and everything getting back to your parents!
What a sweet photo! And the story with it doubles the wonderful!
Oh I’m tearing up!! This was the cutest little story with the cutest little photo of baby Todd to go with it!
Even this cute prince doesn’t say ‘Thank you’ his face and body is crystal clearly saying that how he appreciates those gift, feels thank you and happy! How he is polite and lovely. What a cute speaking face !
I would like to see the picture with mum of the prince !
Such a sweet anecdote–and what a sweet photo, too! 🙂 Thank you for sharing it with us all. Na’ama
Great story and photo! 🙂
Those early games…we still own an original Atari and several game cartridges. But unfortunately a “modern” TV won’t work with it!
Thanks!! I’ve played some of those old games on my PC using an emulator but it isn’t quite the same as using the old controllers, sliding the switch on the back of the TV from “TV” to “Game” and spending an afternoon sitting 5 feet in front of the TV 😀