YOUNG AT HEART

via W

Back in the Town Car...[I] ask Reubens whether he had the kind of relationship with his toys that Pee-Wee has. "Oh, absolutely," he says. "I was the kid who was always checking that the toys weren't facedown. I wouldn't want to be that stuffed bear and be like, My face is mashed down."

My grandmother told me once, when I was very young, that toys had feelings too. I think she was trying to teach me to respect and take care of my property, but it resulted in me developing this creepy sense that inanimate objects really did have souls. I didn't actually have very many dolls, but from that point on I always left them face up or in comfortable seated positions. Trucks and cars always had to be right side up. To this day, I use the same methods when packing old childhood things or knick-knacks away. Old habits die hard.

14 comments :

Cara said...

Haha, I always do this..

Anonymous said...

like the velveteen rabbit!!


xo

Natalie (NJ in L.A.) said...

Wow, I bet you have a long list of things your grandma told you and I'd like to hear them one day. When I was a kid I had the Pee-Wee doll and it was hilarious!

Stephanie said...

hehe, I did the same thing when I was a kid. I used to cry after my mom wouldn't buy me a stuffed animal of some kind, because "he's all alone- nobody wants himmmmm"

InnyVinny said...

I thought my stuffed animals came alive at night. Watching that puppet horror movie only made this worse. Worse still was that they all sat on built in bookshelves that sat above my bed.

I'm surprised I didn't have more night terrors.

Sister Shirley said...

I believed my toys had souls, and that's exactly why I turned their faces away from me. Especially the creepy dolls my grandmother bought for me. I didn't want them watching me with their glassy eyes, plotting my demise.

melina bee said...

that's so cute, I love to hear about the way people may have perceived a concept when little
melina bee

kaye i. said...

I grew up getting lots of dolls as a present, 90% of dolls were scary!! I turn them around at night 'coz they look like they're staring at me!!! Then one day I walked into my bedroom to find out my creepy dolls had sharpie mustaches and unibrows, thanks to my 3 little (rascal) brothers I was allowed to get rid of the dolls... scary dolls begone!

Rackk and Ruin said...

i was the exact same way. I thought all dolls had souls/were living. My best friend and i came up with a chant that would put them to sleep so we could talk about them without them getting upset.
I think my fear of inanimate objects came to fruition after reading the Scary Stories 3 story called "Harold" shit scared the hell out of me. (those illustrations still give me the heebies). You best be treating your dolls right or they'll skin you. http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm501431.html

ray said...

i love this. i was definitely sensitive to these things as a young girl and to this day feel bad for the thrift stuffies cast aside

Karafina said...

i have a healthy collection of hello kitty toys and stuffed animals! i always make sure they are comfortable too =)

Anonymous said...

bless your sweet "sensitive soul," haha! :)

May Kasahara said...

My mom told me the same thing >>> probably so I'd take care of my toys.

I also couldn't throw away pictures/drawings/images of cats. This included packaging - boxes, envelopes, scraps etc. I just knew the cats would be sad if I tossed them.

how I'm not a hoarder now - I'll never know

MeganRose. said...

how cute is it that you do that to your dolls :) something my younger daughter would do!