Is there a better toy for little boys than the classic balsa wood airplane? Somehow, by sheer luck or the unheralded foresight of Mr. Balsa, its lifespan is the exact equivalent of the attention span of any male child under the age of eight years old. As the specimen below illustrates - it lasted approximately 3 minutes and 47 seconds - most kids have little use for an unintentionally split-winged aircraft with detached tail rudders. So, there it lay. Long after its pilot had retired for his FAA mandated 11 hours of rest. Discarded and alone. And certainly not making any return on the investment of the local State Farm agent who provided it as a gift earlier in the day. But it had done its job. Soaring as it did for 3 minutes and 46 seconds around the house much to the delight of both father and son. How briefly grand you were.
Here's to you, balsa wood airplane.
And because you didn't check this blog to read my emotional musings about a tiny wooden plane, I give you this leftover photo from our recent trip to see Cousin Collier.
A small tear glistens in the corner of my eye. I have fond memories of balsa wood airplanes, myself (I was never big on dolls). Now, when do we get to see "The Haircut"???
ReplyDeleteJust the other day while we were in "Cracker Bear", I thought of purchasing one of those planes for Walt's next visit to our house, and I immediately decided that may be way too much disappointment for a dramatic (according to his daddy) 3-year-old.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ginger, for another trip down memory lane, and I, too, look forward to seeing "The Haircut" but more than that, hearing the story that immediately followed said haircut, and of course lunch at the "mento cheese" restaurant.
Come on Mom. That was me. Don't you know your own son's writing? Ginger gets all the credit.
ReplyDeleteyou weren't kiddin' when you said 'ode.' not that i would expect you to kid about something like that.
ReplyDeleteJosh,
ReplyDeleteI knew it was you; and I was proud to be your friend. You ought to do this for a living. Great stuff.
Sorry! Of course, if it had been written in your own handwriting, I'd have known--you're the only fifth grade attorney I know! Even with that, I do love you, though. You're just getting too good at this.
ReplyDelete