I still get sad thinking about that story… I remember reading it as a kid and feeling devastated that the kid had to get rid of his favorite rabbit… and even now, when the toys aren't mine, and they aren't played with, I still get sad to get rid of them. Nevertheless, feeling inundated with toys and running out of space, I finally convinced Zach (and me) to pass along some of the toys he hasn't used in ages.
It was a set of construction things he got just before he turned two… that he played with and played with and played with and played with. I can't tell you how many nights I spent looking for "shovel guy pointing straight down" or "shovel guy pointing straight out" (Zach was always very careful with his toys and would always notice when one TINY – like one inch tall – guy was missing.)
I had to take pictures before I boxed them up and almost got teary handing the box over to a friend who has a boy Carter's age and a house full of tiaras from her two older girls. She may have thought I was crazy. It was nice of her not to say so.
Talking with Nate about giving them away (he KNOWS I'm crazy and loves me anyways) I decided one of the reasons it was so sad to give them away was because I played with them so much with Zach. It was a simpler time – where all I had to do was play. (Lucky first child.) I treasure those memories of jackhammering real rocks brought in from the courtyard and building construction sites with those barricades that would NEVER stay up on the carpet and having so much fun with my little round-faced boy… I remember playing one day and he wanted me to put a hard hat on and I did, not thinking much of it – and remember that night in his prayers it was the thing he was thankful for. (Yes, me putting on the hard hat.)
I guess I can let the toys go – if I can keep the memories.
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