BETWEEN THE LINES: VISIT BRINGS BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF TOYS

Relatives came to visit over the weekend and with them came old memories and the reappearance of toys from my childhood.

My aunt and uncle arrived late Friday night with a vehicle full of suitcases and pillows and a boisterous set of 4-year-old twins in tow. The girls are my aunt's grandchildren.

I had to scramble early Friday afternoon to find enough toys for the girls to play with. Of course they brought some of their own, but those aren't nearly as much fun as new toys.

Typically, there aren't many toys to be found around my house. You'd probably have better luck finding toys at my desk -- or anywhere in the newsroom for that matter -- than at my home.

As I write this, a Beanie Baby knockoff, a finger puppet and three Disney figurines line the computer hard drive at my desk. And there were some toys that I took home to clear up space around my desk.

The neighbor's 15-month-old son was over briefly last week and all I could offer was a ball or two that the cats knock around. His short stay really sent me on a search for children's playthings.

And that search took me to the depths of the basement and storage spaces in my great-grandmother's home. There I found all my dolls, their clothes and baby blankets, stuffed animals, old books and an assortment of Barbies and accessories.

I had forgotten that much of these toys were even still hidden away. I had long forgotten about them and had assumed they had been sold at yard sales, given away or just lost in the shuffle of my many moves and wanderings.

But, luckily they were still around. And they are just as much fun for the twins as they were for me.

In just three days, I have helped dress the Barbie dolls in enough different outfits to qualify them for a spot on the runways of a New York or Paris fashion show.

But with every change of clothes, I remembered how much I played with these same dolls as a young girl. I changed outfits as a means of preparing the dolls for camping trips, horseback riding and even a shopping trip thanks to all the Barbie accessories I owned.

Upon removing these toys from their boxes, I was amazed to realize how much of my childhood had been tucked away. All my favorite toys and memorabilia are covered in dust, but the memories remain as vivid as ever.

It took a set of 4-year-old twin girls to bring all those memories back to life. They have been such fun that most of my day has been spent laughing at their phrases or mannerisms.

Being identical twins, they've been a bundle of amusement and mystery. Most of Saturday afternoon was spent in a game where I tried to guess their true identity, with little help or clues from them.

Now that I've got their names and faces mostly memorized, they'll have to come up with something else to do.

And being the innovative children I think they are, it won't take long for them to develop a new game.

I just hope the games and toys are as much fun for them as they have been for me. Everybody needs a chance to be a kid again -- this week has been mine.

~Laura Johnston is a copy editor for the Southeast Missourian.