I Wanted a Chemistry Set, but all I got was an Easy-Bake Oven

Christmas is over and I hope you're all reeling from the after effects of good food, friends, and presents.

I was alone for Christmas, but that's okay. I'm looking ahead to next Christmas when hubby will be home for good. 

Although we don't exchange presents anymore I couldn't help but reminisce about the rotten presents I've had in years past. You know the ones. We all get them.

Like the crockpot I got from Greg on our first Christmas. Who gives their new bride a crockpot? But boy, I miss it now. Who knew I would depend on it so much? Greg was obviously prescient back then. (Not so much anymore though.)

Or the Easy-Bake Oven I got from my parents. I had begged for a chemistry set. (I had visions of being the next Louis Pasteur and discovering miracle cures with my handy-dandy chemistry set.)

But did I get one?

Nooo. 

I was like the kid from "A Christmas Story" who begged for a Red Rider BB gun and was constantly denied. My parents thought I'd be dangerous with a chemistry set. Baking was safer--and more gender-specific. This was the 60s after all.



Oh, if they only knew how wrong they were. It took me years to master any kind of edible food and only because I was forced. I didn't want my husband to starve on my cooking.

In the end I let my sisters play with the little oven while I played with their Spirograph and Thingmaker, a toy that made rubber bugs out of molds. They got the cool toys and I got an oven. 

There's no justice in the world.

It's funny. I've probably had dozens of gifts I've loved, yet the most memorable were the ones (I thought) I hated. 

Today, my tastes are simpler. My idea of a great present is a gift certificate for a massage, some potted herbs or heirloom seeds, or a starter bag of red wiggler worms (for my future worm farm).

But please, no Easy Bake Ovens. One was enough.

What have you always wanted, but never received?  

Did you have a good Christmas?


Comments

Anne Gallagher said…
I'm sorry Greg wasn't there with you. Next year will be better.

I was always of the opinion if I didn't get what I wanted I would just go out and buy it. And I usually did.

Monster had a good time. However we am now the proud owner of about 1000 Lego pieces. How many of them will end up in the vacuum cleaner?
Unknown said…
I always wanted a microscope so that I could look at different things up close. When my son was younger, I always got him the bug makers and the play doh sets (which my parents never got me either).

I was young and creative, but I wouldn't have painted on the walls or press play doh into the rug. My parents were just too paranoid.
Stacy McKitrick said…
Also, getting what you THOUGHT you wanted could be a let down, too. Toys always looked better on television!

My Christmas was great, but I'm now the owner of way too much cookies and candy! And no, I didn't bake any (they were gifts). Last year I didn't get any candy and I guess I complained about that - haha! Serves me right, huh?
Maria Zannini said…
Anne: Sadly, the chemistry set was forbidden even if I could've paid for it on my own.

In retrospect, it was probably for the best. The chemicals they had in the kits from back then were far from harmless.

Re: 1000 Legos
Are you insane? LOL! I see a new vacuum cleaner in your future. You wanted one, right? :)
Maria Zannini said…
Diane: I remember my first microscope! It was my pride and joy.

I suppose parents tend to err on the side of caution. It's their job to keep us alive until adulthood. :)
Maria Zannini said…
Stacy: Careful what you wish for. :) I'm glad the cookie splurge is only once a year. It makes me feel less guilty when I indulge.
Michelle H. said…
I remember getting an easy-bake oven as a kid. Really boring toy and those cake packets went so fast that you couldn't do anything with the toy until your mom goes out to buy more. Ugh.

I also received a Light Bright as you placed the little colored pegs through the black paper to make a light-up design. Spent hours messing with that. You don't really see those advertised anymore.
Maria Zannini said…
Michelle: I remember those Lite Brites. We never got one of those.

I seem to recall my mother used to make a little batter from scratch for the oven. I don't remember ever buying any more of those packages. --or maybe I'm just trying to forget. LOL.
Rula Sinara said…
I'm glad Greg will be with you next year. Too funny about the crock pot ;).
Maria Zannini said…
Rula: Yeah, he was always a crock of laughs. LOL. That's why I keep him.
Anonymous said…
I remember getting one of those ovens, though I'm fairly certain I had it on my list ;)

We had a great Christmas. I think between us and Santa we surpassed the wee beasties' dreams. And that warms the cockles of my heart :)

Happy New Year Maria!
Maria Zannini said…
Raelyn: But you have the baking gene. Sadly, God left out any cooking sense out of my DNA. :)

I keep trying though.

I'm so glad you had a good Christmas. It's always especially fulfilling when you know you gave your kids a Christmas to remember.

Angela Brown said…
Glad you'll have Greg there for next Christmas. Sure that will be great. Besides, you had the wonderful company of the four-legged kiddos :-)

I'm sure there were lots of gifts-denied growing up. Plenty of lackluster gift-giving for a single mom of three kids working to get out of the projects, especially the year she broke her ankle. But we had lots of love and early knowledge for the reason of the season so those Christmases were dealt with well.

Christmas has been a yo-yoing kind of thing for me. After getting on my own, it didn't have the same glimmer and glow from all the commercialization. When I became a mom, I wanted to do all the things I knew my mom wanted but couldn't do for me so we ended up with years of doing a lot, like we did this year. But we didn't go too far over the rainbow lol!!! For myself, I haven't been much into gifts. This year, I got a daily devotional and a journal, both leather bound, so I'm actually very happy...and surprised since they were unexpected.
Maria Zannini said…
Angela: I think the unexpected gifts are my favorite of all, even if it's nothing more than cookies. --maybe especially if they were cookies. ;-)
Sarah Ahiers said…
If we had space under our sink, i would totally have worms for composting. But alas, no room. Sigh.
Maria Zannini said…
Sarah:

Re: worms
I'm going to try and stash the worm bin in an outdoor building. I wanted to put it under the rabbits, but it might get too hot during the summer. We'll see.
Mike Keyton said…
Hmm. I once bought Bernadette a Wok for Christmas. She seemed happy...Ref worst present - socks - every year from an aunt.
Have a great new year, Maria. May everything you wish for come true
Maria Zannini said…
Mike: Believe it or not, I love getting socks--but only if they're fun-looking.

Re: wok
LOL. She was either being kind--or she likes to cook.

I like cooking gadgets now, but I didn't way back when cooking was the least of my accomplishments.