Middle Aged Memories

Thinking of girlie things, does anyone remember the vending machines in Howard Johnsons ladies rooms ? They sold "diamond rings" and 3 D puzzle key rings that came in the shape of animals among other things. My parents always gave me coins to get a present...up until the day I returned wearing bright red lipstick which I had bought instead of the toys....and HoJos  icrecream sodas were the best ! When I got older, I loved their fried clams.

I am at aloss for the 3-d keyring...

Okay, I remember those, but never had one.

Bowling.  No, I don't think I ever bowled where they used manual pinsetters, but remember when it was not as automated?   You kept your own score on a piece of paper, and did the math.  The ball return was above ground,   Remember the bowling alley smell?  What was it...stale smoke, foot odor, grease from the snack bar all rolled into one?  I'm glad they are not smokey any longer.  Remember the "new" concepts of "rock'n'bowl" and "glo-bowl?"

About 12 years ago, some local lanes got that pneumatic tube ball return.  When I took my kids, they gave us a warning not to reach for the ball til it was completely out of the tube.  Eight frames later, my 6yr. old had his hand wedged in that tube and was screaming for help.  I bruised a couple fingers forcing the ball back to free him.  He got a bag of ice on the hand and a ring-pop.  Good times.

My father had an after school job as a pin setter when he was in high school...back in the late '40s.

I had one Barbie doll and her sister. Not sure if it was Skipper or Midge but I recall she had flat feet. I also had a Ken doll but my brother used to take him from me to play with his GI-Joe.  The Easy Bake Oven was one of my favourite toys growing up.  I never had a 3-D key ring.  Now I feel like I was deprived! lol They look neat...I would have liked having one.

Remember the Lucky Locket Kiddles? They were so cute!

I think I had Lilac, too.  I have a mouse and a tiger "Animiddle Kiddles) somewhere in storage.

I had this one, but lost it.  I vaguely remember the smell of the locket kiddles.

Found one!

Too bad it isn't that easy to find my real ones.  I thought I would have daughters to pass my toys down to one day.

I still have my Barbies packed away.  I did get rid of my baby doll a couple years ago.  My daughter would be 25 this year.

I had all my Barbies, with their extensive wardrobe, and baby dolls.  My daughter loved to play with them.  Our house burned down a few years ago, and the dolls went with it. 

Should we send the Hoarder's crew over to your place?

I forgot about little kiddles - I had Lilac Locket.  I just had one (I liked my barbies better) but my sister had several Little Kiddles cause she liked them better.  Thanks for bringing that up ladies.  As an aside, I never had an easy bake oven, I never wanted one then and I don't reallly want my adult sized oven now as that would imply that I have to cook

I'm sure we can all remember those old pull tabs, from soda and beer cans.  My friend's dad and his buddies drank a lot of beer out at their cottage, and their hangout (the garage) was decorated with chains of those tabs linked together (fashioned by my friend and myself.)

There was a hand-made mini-bar in their garage, and the top surface had been made from bottlecaps from pop and beer bottles (that people like to collect back then) stuck into some kind of grout with clear glass placed on top.  I guess you could still make that these days with twist-off tops, but where the old school fun in that?

One thing I do not miss is getting a cut and bloody foot from "finding" those pull tabs in the sand at the public beaches!