The Book of Me Written By You, Prompt 17 - Toys and Games

The Book of Me Written by You is a 15 month project that was started by Julie Goucher of Anglers Rest and consist of a series of weekly prompts to prompt us to take about our personal journey through life. You can read more about the project here.

Prompt 17 is Toys and Games and the instructions for this prompt are

• Can you remember your first toy or game?
• Do you still have it?
• Who did you play it with?
• Did you play board games?
• Have you inherited any of your family games & toys?
• Share some pictures if you would like to?

I had a variety of toys and games growing up. The first one that I truly remember was my Betsy Wetsy Doll. Betsy was the start of in addition to making my clothes as well as her own, my mother also had to make clothes for the dolls. I had the best dressed dolls in the neighborhood. 

Although not with me, I actually still have most of my dolls. They are in my old toy chest back at my childhood home. That is provided my mother hasn't gotten rid of them. But they were there the last time I checked.

One of my favorite games was Fascination

(Picture obtained via eBay)

This game contained the tower, which indicated who won, and the two boards which had a maze on each side. Each player had 3 balls with the object of getting them from the middle of the maze to the three holes at the top of the board. The game required two players and you were racing against the person you were playing against to get your balls in the 3 holes first. As an only child, I of course played this game many times with my parents. I also had fun playing it with my friends and cousins. Is it still around, last time I checked it was still in the basement at the childhood home but my mother has been thinking about moving back into our home and has done some major cleaning out of the basement, so I've no clue if it's still around or not.

I actually have an inherited family game, via dad's side of the family. It's called The Magnetic Bible Quiz. It was at Aunt Martha's house and the Jones grandkids played it often when we gathered at Aunt Martha's house during the summer months.

The object of the game was to take the bishop / shepherd (sorry I really never knew which one it was, maybe neither) figurine and place it in the little cup on the left. These are the questions, the player would turn the figure to a question and then try to answer the question. The figurine has a pin in one hand that you point at the question. Then you place the figurine in the spot on the right where it provided the correct answer.

There are several sheets with questions and answers that were provided with the game. I always thought it was the coolest thing even if it was a bit challenging as a child. It was just fun spending time with the cousins.

The Story of Two Aunts and One Man

Martha E. Jones and Genva C. Hosch Jackson

To date, I’ve not come across any true black sheep in my family. There are probably those that present and deceased family consider / considered black sheep but in the true sense of black sheep are not. As a result, I never have had anything to contribute to Black Sheep Sunday and even this is not about Black Sheep but the funny story of two aunts, my dad’s big sis, Martha, my mother’s baby sister, Geneva, and one man, Cleveland. I thought that Black Sheep Sunday was the perfect day to remember it.

Now I don’t think I was born when this story took place (if I was I don’t remember any of it) and to tell you the truth, I’m not even sure my parents were married at the time. So, it’s another story that was relayed to me by my mother and it’s one I laugh at every time my mother tells it because having known both aunts, I know all of this took place in exactly the manner as my mother tells it.

Until I find out differently, let’s just assume that my parents were married at the time this story takes place. My two aunts, Martha and Geneva, were both dating Cleveland at the same time. Now my mother knew they were both seeing the same man. Dad on the other hand didn’t. So, as time went by whenever Aunt Martha saw Cleveland’s mother, she would say there goes my mother-in-law, etc., etc., etc. Now momma could have told Aunt Martha that Cleveland was seeing someone else but mom never said a word. Momma, you know you were wrong for that.

I’m sure by now you can guess where this story is heading. Yes, it was soon announced that Aunt Geneva and Cleveland were getting married. Reportedly dad says to mom, “I didn’t know your sister was seeing Sister’s boyfriend.” Mom always thought it was more that Aunt Martha was seeing her sister’s boyfriend.

One day, after she and Cleveland were married Aunt Geneva, I imagine with her usual cackle, asked her hubby why he decided to marry her instead of Aunt Martha given the fact that Aunt Martha was a school teacher and all and she was just a country girl who longed for the action of the big city. Uncle Cleveland liked Aunt Martha but thought she was just a little too bossy.

Aunt Martha never married. She doted on her 6 nieces and nephews. She never forgot our birthdays. To a certain degree, she was the preserver of the bit of family history that I do have on the paternal side of my family. The older pictures that I have of my Jones, Ewell, and Everett ancestors were Aunt Martha’s. She’s the only person I personally know that has been back to the motherland, Africa. She did a couple of trips bringing goodies back each time. (I have some of her artifacts.) Aunt Martha died in 2000. I get constant reminders of her presence, whether it is looking after her house, which she left to my dad, rummaging through the pictures for something to post for Wordless Wednesday, or just staring at the masks and sculptures that she brought back from Africa that now have a place of honor in my own home.

Aunt Geneva, my cousin Leon (Aunt Geneva’s son) and Uncle Cleveland moved to Detroit. Aunt Geneva and Uncle Cleveland eventually added my cousin Maynard to their family. Aunt Geneva was always sending us packages from the big city. One of my favorite dolls and one of my favorite elementary school outfits came from Aunt Geneva. Aunt Geneva died in August 1995. My last remembrance of seeing Aunt Geneva is May of 1995 when she came to North Carolina to attend Uncle John’s funeral. She stayed with Aunt Marie. Aunt Marie didn’t have a microwave. Aunt Geneva upon realizing that Aunt Marie lacked this vital appliance declared in true Aunt Geneva fashion, “Awww Marie, everyone needs a microwave. When I get back to Detroit, I’m going to send you a microwave.” And she did.

So, there you have it, the story of two aunts and one man.

Until Next Time!