|
Community Links |
Social Groups |
Pictures & Albums |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
12-19-2007, 12:26 PM | #1 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 340
|
With the holidays here, this seemed like a good time to share my memory of receiving one of the greatest gifts ever. I posted this on my blog last year, and for those who missed it - read on!
- - - - - 1985. Arguably the greatest toy year ever, with Masters of The Universe, Transformers and G.I.Joe at the heights of popularity. During that spring I had received the G.I.Joe Snow Cat vehicle, and with it came the extensive fold-out catalog showcasing all the new G.I.Joe products that would be released that year. I poured over the new figures and vehicles, circling the ones I wanted to get. And then I saw IT. There, at the bottom of the page. The single greatest thing I had ever seen up to that point in my life – the U.S.S. Flagg Aircraft Carrier. "The ultimate G. I. Joe vehicle! 7 1/2 feet long! Taxi G. I. Joe aircraft down the runway with towing vehicle and gas-up with fuel trailer. Sound the "alarm" and give commands on the electronic sound system! Features include working deck elevator, blast deflector, two arrestor hooks, and much, much more! Also includes G. I. Joe ADMIRAL and the Admiral’s Launch." Unbelievable. I had to have it. Somehow, some way, it would be mine. I began lobbying for this early in the year, with notes and showing my folks the catalog and inserting the USS Flagg into pretty much any conversation I had with my parents. Which made it tough on them. That $99.99 price tag was a formidable challenge. See, my parents had financial problems during this time which made it difficult to spend extra money or non-essentials. Sure we had food and clothes and a roof over our head, and the occasional (okay frequent) action figure or small vehicle; but spending close to $100 on a toy was laughable. ridiculous. crazy, even. Of course I was oblivious to these money problems at the time because my parents (as parents do) made me feel like we had everything we wanted, so I did not understand why I could not have this. I asked for it for my birthday in September but did not receive it. I doubled my efforts with my parents. When we were at K-mart I dragged them over to look at the huge boxed vehicle on display. I even drew pictures of the Flagg and put them everywhere around the house. My last hope was soon to arrive – Christmas. My parents made a point to explain that receiving the Flagg wasn’t likely. I was bummed out, but had plenty of other toys to put on my Xmas List. Christmas Morning – I scanned the tree and room but did not spot the Flagg. I still had a wonderful Christmas, receiving many action figures and vehicles from the various toy lines. It was great. After all the gifts were opened, my whole family was relaxing around the tree and my folks asked me if I got everything I wanted. Of course with a goofy smile I said “pretty much, but I didn’t get the G.I.Joe aircraft carrier.†My brothers laughed. My parents looked a little disappointed, but they said “Well, we have one more gift for you!†My heart skipped a little. I closed my eyes, thinking this must be it! I then heard my brothers hauling something big into the room. I was excited. But my brothers were saying “watch the handlebars†& “lookout for the tires†and my heart sank just a little bit. A new bike was neat and all that, but I was hoping for the Flagg. Still, I would be excited and appreciative. They told me to open my eyes. I expected to see a shiny new bike. Instead, sitting right in front of me was an enormous box with a paintingon the front of a huge “99â€, above it a G.I.Joe Skystriker jet, taking off. G.I.Joe characters everywhere, busy at work. A red, orange and white explosion framing the entire dramatic image. Unbelievable! The G.I.Joe USS Flagg aircraft carrier in all her glory! I screamed a child’s scream of sheer joy and hugged the box tightly. It was surreal! The thing I had wanted the most and here it was, right in front of me. It was a moment I will never forget. I remember spending 3 hours Xmas night putting her together, fitting all the joints and pieces together and putting on all the decals. And many imaginative hours of my childhood were spent with playing with my Joes. My friends loved it. As I got older, many people wondered why I never sold it. It was expensive and highly sought-after by collectors. The reason was simple – besides keeping it for my kids, besides the nostalgia factor, besides all that – a few years after that Christmas, I found out how my parents afforded the USS Flagg. During one of those first visits to K-Mart, my Dad went back and put the Flagg on layaway. He added money every week for months until he paid for it just before the holidays. They had been planning to buy this all along, despite their financial troubles. So for what it means to me personally, and for what my Dad did to buy it, I’m never parting with my USS Flagg. Thanks, Dad. And Merry Christmas, everyone. |
12-19-2007, 01:04 PM | #2 |
I just want foam gliders.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Tooele (two-willa), Utah
Posts: 18,727
|
Nice story...
My parents were also financially troubled in 1985. (Who's weren't?) Yet I never recall not having lots of GI Joe toys. Once my dad dropped $12 on the Snow Cat for me... just "because." I remember having to save $12 to get the Thunder Machine. It was hard because like all of us as kids, it was hard to not spend my $5 allowance for three weeks to save up enough to pay for the toy and taxes. But I did and the Thunder Machine is still one of my favorite toys from the series. For Christmas in 85 I got the Hydrofoil and the Battle Platform. What was most cool was that I had also just gotten issue 40 of the Marvel GI Joe comic, that featured the platform and the hydrofoil. It was soooo cool to have the same toys that were in the comic book. I remember seeing the FLAGG, the Terror Drone and the Defiant at Target and wanting them sooo bad... but there was no way I was ever going to get one of those... in fact later that year I built a FLAGG out of a plank of wood. Necessity is the mother of invention after all... Still, I look back and remember being very happy with what I had.
__________________
Problems with the Club? Click me.... How to post pics to Hisstank? Click me.... BST Feedback |
12-19-2007, 01:21 PM | #3 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,061
|
My short and very vivid memory is getting the Rattler. I remember waking up and there it was on the fireplace. Unwrapped. Thank you santa. I remember playing with that thing like forever!
|
12-19-2007, 01:32 PM | #4 |
Plastic Junkie
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 803
|
Finally a story that's heart warming. You were one lucky kid. Christmas 85-86 were good years for me, that's when my obsession with GI Joe really began. I remember getting so many figures, and vehicles those years. My mother always took pictures of us opening our gifts, so I can always relive those happy moments of my youth.
Last edited by bvance74; 12-19-2007 at 01:40 PM.. |
12-19-2007, 02:23 PM | #5 |
I just want foam gliders.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Tooele (two-willa), Utah
Posts: 18,727
|
You should post those pics...
I wish I had pics of me opening up GI Joe stuff... :(
__________________
Problems with the Club? Click me.... How to post pics to Hisstank? Click me.... BST Feedback |
12-19-2007, 03:18 PM | #6 |
Gunslinger
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MidWorld
Posts: 38,081
|
It's 1984, and I'm twelve years old. I dare to ask "Santa" for the GI Joe Killer Whale. It's been featured prominently in the comics, and cartoon, and I just think it would be so great to play with in the pool. My dad tells me I'm too old for toys, but my mom ignores him and there it is under the tree which really pissed my dad off. The toy was great but he was really angry.
Two days after Christmas, I'm riding my new Bike and the breaks give out while I'm racing a friend. Before I can drop to the ground I slam into a brick wall so hard I jam my teeth up into my gums and break both my arms in several places. I spend the next two or three days in the hospital. I remember waking up in the hospital after that first rough night to find my dad watching over me, and the Whale sitting on my bed filled with figures. He brought it in himself to make me feel better. Now my dad was a bastage. I was treated pretty bad by him all my life, but that one christmas, I remember him going out of his way to be kind and understanding to me. I just realized now how it was linked to my old Joes.
__________________
FS/FT: Planet Grn Valley, Eagle Force Action Force http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...sell-list.html |
12-19-2007, 05:09 PM | #7 |
Cobra Peeping Tom
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IN THE JUNGLE OF CA...
Posts: 4,345
|
You guys have some pretty good heart-wrenching stories. I don't really remembering getting joes for Christmas as much as underwear and socks. hehe
|
12-19-2007, 05:40 PM | #8 |
Ground Support Pilot
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Strafing runs over S.E. Michigan
Posts: 1,033
|
Superfly, that is a very cool story. Almost makes a grown man cry to think back to that time. Roland' that is an amazing story too. I hope you didn't mess yourself up too much. ;)
I remember every year between '83 until probably '86/'87 getting Joes and vehicles for Xmas. I still remember the year (1985) my brother and I got the WHALE and Moray. My parents treated us really well at Xmas time with Joe stuff (that was all we pretty much asked for). These are all great stories, I hope others can share more. |
12-19-2007, 05:44 PM | #9 |
Rock-Viper
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 945
|
Back in '84, sometime before Christmas, I get a phone call from my Aunt asking what I want for Christmas. Of course I tell her I want GI Joes, specifially the Whale (THE best Joe Vehicle and the Joes needed something to fight my Copperhead in his Watermoccison (sp?)) A few weeks later, I get another call from my Aunt and she says that she cant find the Whale and I should give her some other ideas, so I tell her the Dragonfly would be cool too. As much I tried hiding my dissappointment that the Whale would not be under the tree this year, I think she saw through my vain attempt.
Well Christmas day comes around and after opening a few presents, my parents bring a HUGE box out from behind the tree (ok not as HUGE as a Flagg but it was still huge to a 7 year old boy). I ripped into that present so fast, my parents barely got it on film. I was so excited to see the WHALE before my eyes, I hopped up and down with a HUGE grin on my face. I only know this because like I mentioned earlier, my parents have it (now) on video tape (they transfered all the old film reels they had onto VHS in 90s). Those were great years. And I still have the Whale in a box in my storage unit, it's missing a few parts and Cutter's o-ring is dissintegrated but I'll be keeping that for a very long time. As soon as we get into a house (currently in a Condo), I'll be setting up my "Toy" room to display all my Joe stuff and Transformers. |
12-20-2007, 12:31 AM | #10 |
yeah......
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,292
|
man, I got to many to name! most of which involve my Dad stealing Joes from me or him cursing profusely while build the larger vehicles.
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Share your favorite Quotes | Mr. Focus | General Discussion | 206 | 02-02-2010 02:54 AM |
Favorite Holiday? | Da_Last_2_Walk | General Discussion | 8 | 03-23-2008 04:23 AM |
anyone have a custom of zanya to share | Golobulous | G.I. Joe Customs General Discussion | 4 | 03-18-2008 01:19 AM |
Anyone have a pic of golobulous they would like to share? | Golobulous | G.I. Joe Customs General Discussion | 7 | 03-09-2008 04:24 PM |
GI Joe Club Holiday Specials | apacolypse | G.I. Joe News and Rumors | 7 | 11-21-2007 04:30 PM |
|
|