"Several Collectibles of a Bygone Era" - Time Out #164

The famous, early 19th century nursery rhyme says little boys are made of "snips and snails, and puppy dog tails".

Well, I didn't exactly fit this descriptive pattern, growing up in the 1950's and 1960's during simpler and gentler times in Our Town. Yes, I loved rocks and dirt, and crawly things as much as the next little boy, as I grew up a few blocks east of historic Westwood School, on Norman Rockwell-like, tree-lined West 4th Avenue. I certainly had my myriad of live critters inside and outside our wonderful home, and taking care of them each day, was essential in teaching me responsibility. Work ethic was easily transferred from my dynamic father, Col. C.H, Breedlove, to me with very little effort, other than simple every day observation of him on my part.

Anyway, in addition to collecting live pets, just what else did I accumulate over those 1950/60's years?

As previously discussed, literally thousands of all types of sports cards were collected by me for many years. What is more remarkable today, I still have these cardboard jewels. No, they didn't go the usual route of my buddies' collections, i.e., bicycle wheel spokes to simulate motorcycle noise going down the street/sidewalk, or sitting too long in the same spot in their homes, and then, their parents tossed their collections out in the trash heap, to be carted off to the city dump.

However, I did have a bad fate happen to another collection I carefully kept in a huge wooden box in my bedroom. This treasure chest held my mostly Dell comic books, that probably numbered in the hundreds, at a purchase price of 10-cents per copy from the local grocery and drug stores. I am certain that through repeatedly reading Little Lulu, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Gyro Gearloose, Scrooge McDuck, and the other assorted Disney characters, I greatly increased my elementary school reading skills. My bride, Debbie, would probably disagree with that statement, however, as for our almost 40-years of marital bliss, she repeatedly says she has only seen me read less that .001% of the books she has mentally consumed. Yes, she is a ravenous reader, and, simply put, I am not!!

Anyway, if I still had my colossal box of comics, I am sure this collection today would be extremely valuable; but, alas, it is not to be, dear readers of Our Town and far beyond.

The same could be said of my considerable collection of 45 rpm records I purchased for a dollar each. Singers Elvis, Buddy Holly, Johnny Rivers, many Motown artists, and others, spun regularly on my small record player, This music made me often think ourhome living room was another "American Bandstand" location, and I was its host, Dick Clark. My pressed rubber/plastic legendary records haven't been part of my ownership for decades. Oh, well, I could have only hoped they survived? However, there is another prize I still have, that is certainly worth mentioning.

My boyhood marble collection.

Yes, cat-eyes, clearies, agates, log rollers, shooters, and regular, multi-colored marbles, are all well-preserved, and in my possession at home. I vividly remember, as a youth, our spirited marble games of holes, or shooting marbles out of the ground-drawn circle, and, thus, being able to claim the loose marbles, thanks to my skillful ( or lucky?) shooting abilities. Wow, those were certainly fun-filled outside days way back then!

The last, but by far the most important, thing I collected over time in Our Town, were my cherished friends. Many of my buddies today have been from friendships made many, many years ago in this very special place we call home. My relationships with these folks is absolutely priceless to me.