Another Christmas has come and gone, as Charlie Brown would say. It was fun. My kids enjoyed it—hope yours did as well.

Speaking of kids, mine are just 10 and 7 so I don't expect any presents from them. Nor will I ever ask for any, even when they are older. I just enjoy being with them and don't need anything more than that. I imagine this feeling will just become stronger as I and they age.

That said, they usually try to get me some kind of surprise. Usually a picture they draw or something clever they fold, of just a handmade card. I love their cards and have saved every one.

This year, they got me something that actually cost money. Not only that, but something that looks like it was either special ordered or picked up at one of the import stores in the mall. I imagine my wife may have had something to do with it, given the theme.

It's this!

A lego boombox, complete with cassette and MTV logo. My oldest knows what a boombox is and he knows cassettes, but I don't think he's aware enough to know these were the essential items when I was a kid. Maybe he thought it just looked cool in the store, but I suspect my wife was whispering in his ear that I would like it.

It's interesting being at an age when all the things I grew up with are considered retro and are coming back as these collector toys, aimed at the people among my generation who now have more disposable income and are taken by nostalgia.

Anyway, I was going to do a time lapse of me putting it together with my kids (I mostly let them do the putting together) but I couldn't find my tripod attachment for the iPhone, so I decided to just take a few photos showing the progress.

I want my MTV!!

I'm not really a fan of this kind of thing. I mean I love the nostalgia. But I can enjoy the memories of my childhood without having a bunch of junk clogging up my house.

That said, I appreciate the thoughtful gift and I'll let it sit displayed on my bookshelf in between a photos of both kids.

❦

David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Twitter or Mastodon.