Tonight the family spent time playing with the racetrack in the living room. Now this is not any racetrack. My parents bought it for me when I was three. There is something special about watching my kids play with and enjoy a toy just as much as I remember.
My friend Phil Schoenthal and I had epic battles using this track. We transformed in into a downhill track. It seems that I spent hours at Toy “R” Us examining the Hotwheels and Matchbox cars in order to figure out which one would be the fastest. Most of my cars are somewhere in the kids playroom except a few choice cars that hang on the wall.
As a parent you see your kids reflect you in so many ways. Sometimes it’s good, other times it’s bad or even ugly. Being a parent in so many ways makes me grow older faster. It seems that gray hairs aren’t too far away. In other ways it keeps me young. I can watch my kids play and it takes me right back to when I was their age.
I am reminded of how I ended up with this racetrack in the first place. It’s kind of embarrassing to say but I got it after I cried for it. It wasn’t the best moment as a kid, but it was worth it and my parents would say that they were glad that I cried. Simply because it brought so much fun to our home.
Posted by Rita Schoenthal on October 8, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Paul – those were fun times. Besides horses, racing cars with you was one of Phil’s favorite things to do. Looks like you have your hands full with your great kids!!