Childhood Toys…
This morning we went down to Wimberley for their first Saturday sale. While browsing the various antique and craft booths I came across a dealer that had a set of original, in the original box, Lawn Jarts.
I had to own them.
We haggled over price and I walked away with my prize for a mere $8. I wasn’t about to tell him they sell for around $50-$150 on the Net, when you can find them. The reason they are so expensive is that they have banned from manufacturing and resale in the US since 1988. eBay cancels all attempts at selling them. Yeah, you can sell swords, knives, and other instruments of doom on eBay but not good ol’ Jarts. These things are dangerous as all hell and a blast to play with.
These things also bring back lots of memories. My favorite memory of them is from when I was around 9 years old. A friend of mine that lived two doors up had a set of them. I’d stand in my backyard, and he in his. Each of us would have a pair of the daggers of flying death. We put out the rings and get ready to play. From our yards we could not see each other. We’d decide who went first and go.
INCOMING!
When you heard that cry you’d better be looking up as pointy airborne death from above was inbound to your location. Remember, we couldn’t see the person tossing. We had to acquire our potential Grim-Reaper-on-wings in mid-air and get the hell out of the way before it impacted. Once it hit we’d give fire correction over the tin-can phone we had strung from his yard to mine and they’d fire again. We’d do this for hours on a summer afternoon.
How we ever survived childhood without our nanny government looking out for us I’ll never know.
: Hello City from the album “Play Everywhere For Everyone Austin, TX 03-10-04” by Barenaked Ladies