As someone who's all too aware of the seeming
immutability of memory and association, I'm often sur-
prised when I experience examples that fly in the face of
the principle. What do I mean? Well, if I got an item in,
say, the '60s, I''m usually always reminded of the period
say, the '60s, I''m usually always reminded of the period
and place in which I lived when I purchased it when-
ever I look at the thing, be it comic or toy.
ever I look at the thing, be it comic or toy.
But, sometimes, there are exceptions. A case in
point is this set of WADE porcelain figures, which I've
shown on the blog before. The YOGI BEAR figure was
bought in 1970 or '71 and, naturally enough, I associate
it in memory with where I was then living, which was
the previous house to the one I now reside in.
45 years passed before I decided to track down
and acquire the remaining two HANNA-BARBERA
figures in the set, HUCKLEBERRY HOUND and Mr.
JINKS. I succeeded in my quest, so you'd think that
I'd therefore associate them with now, rather than
I'd therefore associate them with now, rather than
then, but surprisingly, such is not the case.
When I look at Huck and Jinks, I can't help but
'see' them in my old room of my former house, sit-
'see' them in my old room of my former house, sit-
ting alongside Yogi as if I owned all three pieces back
then. They fit so well into that period that it's hard to
separate them from it, and link them to the contem-
porary times in which they were purchased.
porary times in which they were purchased.
Another of life's little mysteries which I thought
I'd share with you all here. After all, why should I be
the only person who has to ponder such perplexities?
Now you can all wrestle with it - and if you feel like
commenting on the matter, be my guest.
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