Feature image for Toying With Life’s Greatest Moments

Toying With Life’s Greatest Moments

A childhood toy and later family moments show how life’s most meaningful experiences often arrive unexpectedly and become lasting memories.

5 min read

Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / Joe_Photo

It seemed like the coolest toy—a pair of walkie-talkies that would allow me to be in one place and talk to my buddy who was in a different place. I went through the Sears catalogue about 10 times, trying to figure out the proper balance between a quality set that was expensive and a toyish-looking, bright-red, cheap one that Mom would probably suggest. I mean, if I was going to be doing high-intensity spying and message translation, I needed the right tool. This was no kid’s game.

My parents did not disappoint. On Christmas morning, I received the set I wanted and immediately put the batteries in place. I handed one set to my dad and ran up the stairs to my room.

“Hello?” my dad said.