When I was in elementary school, way back in the 1980s, on summer days, I would go to my cousin’s house up the street to make up battles with our latest commercially induced toy line. Often the toys were Transformers, G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K., or He Man. I was very much into Transformers and M.A.S.K.; just slightly interested in G.I. Joe, and only had 2 He Man figures to my collection. I can remember putting a few of my own toys in a box and making a shortcut through neighbors’ yards in order to get to my cousin’s house. My only concern was the random dog, which would bark at me. We’d have some amazing battles before my uncle got home (which in my case was my queue to leave). My cousin would always keep his toys in premium condition. Sometimes I would inadvertently break mine from playing too rough with them. Or possibly due to them being underfoot. Neither my cousin nor me would even think to play with our toys outside (might get them dirty).
Toys weren’t the only thing that kept us busy. Sometimes we’d get out the Atari and play it for hours. Othertimes we’d play with waterguns or ride our bikes around in the woods behind my cousin’s house.
A Very Special Waltons Episode was on the other day. It’s the one where the new preacher comes to town to preach a tent meeting. The preacher is played by John “Three’s Company” Ritter. I wanted to see a cameo appearance by Suzanne Somers as the lady of ill repute on Waltons Mountain, but Suzanne didn’t show up.
Anyways this is the one where the preacher comes in preaching hellfire and brimstone sermons. Later on in the episode the preacher ends up getting drunk off of some elixir. He is shuned by some in the community for accidentially getting drunk. Because of that a lady ends up preaching the tent meeting. (I thought this was revolutionary even on Walton’s Mountain). The Waltons father ends up going to the tent meeting and saying everyone has sinned and let the preacher preach. The show ends when Grandpa starts up an accapella version of “Just as I Am” during the meeting. How heartwarming!