message: 343 name: J. D.
email: tracyfan@bellsouth.net
Wow! Wacky Packages! They DO prompt fun memories from the mid 70s when many of the boys with whom I rode the bus to middle school collected them. It was interesting, but our bus loaded up at our midle school first and then rode over to the nearby high school to wait for it to release students so we could all ride home together. That was enough time for a few boys to stop at a SMALL store between the two and buy Wackies and Now and Laters for everyone before meeting us at the high school. Wackies adorned most of our notebooks and we loved them! I remember, though, that no one could ever find Tricks, so of course we all wanted it. Finally, however, one boy found it and he suddenly had to field pre-teen business offers for it. I do not recall what I offered him except that it was multiple Wackies, but he traded with me, so I had what was for us the rare card! Honestly, I have thought little of Wackies in the last 20 years, though it is amazing that when I use or see certain products—Liquid Plumber, Tang, Ragu, etc.—how the names come unbidden to me. Liquid Plumber will ALWAYS be Liquid Bomber! To bring this full circle, My wife, son, and I were camping near Anderson, South Carolina when I found a comic book store there and just wanted to check it out; that is one hobby that I never lost. As I was paying for my comics, I looked around the register, and there was a sight that caused the memories to flush over me—a box of Wacky Packages! I could not believe my eyes, and remarked to the girl working there about my surprise at seeing them. I did not buy any then, but thought about them more and more, and when I came home, decided to do a search on the Internet, which eventually led me to this site—which is itself unbelievable! so thorough and nicley done, it is clear that it is the product of many hours of work and love! The next day, I went to Target and bought some loose packs—no bonus box though, either there or at Wal-Mart as our local Wally does not sell trading cards out of fear of them being stolen—but I was able to put together the entire new set. My seven year old son, who was skeptical at first, even became smitten with them when I showed him Go-Dirt as he likes Go-Gurt! Seeing the look of understanding and joy when he realized the parody was cool. What more, as an English teacher, it is useful for me to teach him the concepts of parody and satire! Thanks for a great site and for helping those fun, old memories to resurface!
date: 9:38 am - Monday, July 5, 2004
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