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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
HOP ON UP AND CLICK THE FROG!
Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
TOYS, GAMES, AND YO-YO’S
My Chatty Cathy doll said eleven different things, ranging from “Let’s play house” to “I love you.” Her voice sounded just like Talking Tina of “I’m going to kill you” Twilight Zone Fame. No surprise. Voice actress June Foray spoke for both of them.
However, of all the toys I lost or broke, only one stood up to years of joyful wear and tear.
I owe it to inventor André Cassagnes, a baker’s son whose allergy to flour caused him to seek employment as an electrician. His creation would go on to become the Etch-A-Sketch.
I still play with it.
***
Portrait of Jan on my Etch-A-Sketch
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I am in awe of your creative ability with that infernal machine. I couldn’t even draw a set of steps. 😯
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Dear Archon,
It takes practice. The problem is is that the masterpieces are temporal. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice memory, Rochelle (including the scary doll)
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Dear Neil,
I had my Chatty Cathy for many years. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You really did well with that Etch-A-Sketch, Rochelle. I’m amazed. The only thing dolls did when I was little was drink and wet. There must have been a little tube that went from the mouth to a hole in the bottom of the doll. The only problem was they were rubber and after a while went to pieces. I’m guessing mold collected inside which couldn’t have been good. It was intriguing to a small child though. 😀 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I did have a Betsy Wetsy doll, too. The problem arose when I had her drink juice instead of water. 😉 Thank you for reading and leaving such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, ha, ha. Betsy must have been rather sticky after that. I hope the ants didn’t smell it. 😀 —– Suzanne
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Great story Rochelle!
It invokes the memory and magic of toys. I never understood the doll thing but loved stuffed animals and wanted every My Little Pony…
Can’t believe your Etch-A-Sketch still works. They don’t make them like they use to.
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Dear Tanille,
Actually, my Etch-A-Sketch didn’t survive my kids, but I did have it for many years. The one I drew the picture of my husband on didn’t last a year. Truly, they don’t make them like they used to. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Those dolls are really spooky.
I love the idea of a baker’s son being allergic to flour. There must be more stories along those lines: the lion tamer’s daughter allergic to whips, the state executioner’s son allergic to guillotines…
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Dear Patrick,
I really loved my Chatty Cathy. Thank you for your comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, I never had an etch-a-sketch and had to make do with borrowing my friend’s one. Thanks for bringing back memories. 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Dear Susan,
Happy to share the memories. I’m thinking I need a new Etch-A-Sketch. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Happy days. Today they sketch on their phone screens! Never a doll person myself but I did love my train set!
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Dear Keith,
My brother had an electric train set, complete with smoke that rose from the stack. It fascinated me. And don’t they do everything on phone screens these days? From the time they’re babes in arms. I still love my Etch-A-Sketch. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember Etch A Sketch, by Ohio Art, O so especially well, and I see someone’s quite good at it June Foray was also Bullwinkle The Moose’s friend Rocket J. Squirrel
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Dear Larry,
June Foray did a number of voices on that show, including Natasha Badinoff and Mr. Peabody’s boy Sherman. 😉 (A favorite show of mine back in the day.) Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Brings back an avalanche of childhood memories. Very delightful tale, dear Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
I hope they were good childhood memories. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That is a toy I never had the pleasure of playing with.
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Colline. Sorry your childhood was deprived. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😂
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I’ve never been able to figure out how to make those things work! Loved the story, as always, with a tidbit of history thrown in.
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Dear Linda,
I had a blast with my Etch-A-Sketch. It’s a matter of coordinating the two knobs. It can be done and there are artists out there who make mine look trite. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Chatty Cathy is pretty creepy. Talking Tina wasn’t as scary as the real thing… 😉 Etch-A-Sketch was such a great toy. I haven’t played with one in ages. Glad you still have yours.
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Dear Trent,
June Foray was hired to do the voice of Talking Tina because of Chatty Cathy. Funny, I had another doll who didn’t talk that I found creepier. I’m actually in need of a new Etch-A-Sketch. They really don’t make them like they used to. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely little flash memoir! I love the Etch-a-Sketch as well, but I wasn’t really very good at it. Shalom, Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
I had an art teacher in high school who told me I’d found my medium. 😉 He was being “cute.” Glad you enjoyed my jaunt down Memory Lane…thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I envy your etch-a-sketch abilities. I was never that good at it. I had one of those dolls when I was young. Honestly, I’m not sure you want to know what I did with her… let’s just say her remains were scattered for several miles.
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Dear Bear,
I won’t ask about the doll, but you made me laugh out loud. As for the Etch-A-Sketch, it’s just fun. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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hehe!
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Dear Rochelle,
What a great memory. And whoa. That picture of Jan – I couldn’t even do that with pencil and paper, never mind an Etch-a-Sketch! Like Archon, I could barely do steps 😉
And dolls like that are positively spooky. I was never into them, though my mother did tell me I had one (obviously made no impression as I don’t remember it at all!)
Shalom and Lotsa love and Welcome back home!
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I did like dolls. Chatty Cathy was a favorite. Again, another toy that didn’t survive my boys. 😉 The funny thing is the one doll I really wanted was Raggedy Anne…never got one.
The Etch-A-Sketch just came naturally. And there are those artists who leave me in the dust with them. But then who wants to put that much time and effort to something so temporary? Right? Of course, right.
Give me a few days to say it’s good to be back home. 😉 Last night I dreamt I was walking the streets of Jerusalem. Thank you, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa hugs,
Rochelle
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Like those chalk artists, sand castle builders, etc. 😉
I say that was a very nice dream indeed!
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Excellent bit of nostalgia. My sister had a Chatty Cathy. She was almost as creepy as my talking GI Joe. I also love etch-a-sketch, so we have that in common.
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Dear Josh,
I loved my Chatty Cathy. Cutting edge back in the day. Now, my Patty Play Pal, that was creepy. She gave me nightmares.
Etch-A-Sketch is relaxing. I’m thinking I need a new one. My kids put the kai-bash on my first one and the one my husband gave me a few years ago wasn’t made well. Not surprised we artists have it in common. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How could you possibly have forgotten about Colorforms?
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Had those, too. But I only had 100 words. 😉
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I had the toy as a kid, sucked at it -if I may add. 🙂
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Dear Lady C,
Some us got it, some ain’t. 😉 Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ouch!
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Yikes for the spooky doll thing! That’s the stuff of nightmares .. 😉
As for the etch-a-sketch!!!! WOW!
I’m very impressed! I think the farthest I ever got with that skill is a sort-a-circle that aspires to get rid of some bumpy corner-like turns … 😉
Added mine to the froggy. The photo took me to a bit of a different kind of theme, though no less real … You’ll see what I mean.
https://naamayehuda.com/2019/05/22/pinned-hopes/
Welcome back!
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Actually it was my Patty Play Pal doll that gave me nightmares. She was life size (3 year old child) with a creepy face. Etch-A-Sketch is always fun but they don’t make them to last anymore. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, my cousins had one the size of me (at the time I was 5 or so). My cousins were older than I was, and I was in awe of the fact they had a person-size doll. I still don’t quite know why they had her or what for (they would’a been teenagers at the time), but I remember being partially puzzled and partially jealous and partially spooked by the fact they had a silent roommate which lived with them in their girls’ room. I think she could close her eyes when ‘asleep’ (supine) which didn’t make things any better … 😉
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Could have been the same doll. I had her into adulthood when I had kids. The nightmares started in my 30’s so I kicked Patty to the curb.
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Well, she might’ve wanted to retire and go wander about the world, anyway … 😉
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Used to love an etch-a-sketch – although never anywhere near as proficient as you seem to be with it! 🙂
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Dear Iain,
What can I say? Not exactly a marketable ability, but a bit of a diversion. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My sister had a talking doll… and it was fun to hear it repeat those phrases… I remember trying to play with the etch a sketch at friends, but never had one… My parents wanted us to use paper and crayons..
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Dear Björn,
I think my mother bought me the Etch-A-Sketch so she’d be able to find a piece of paper I hadn’t drawn on. 😉 So no issues there. I did love my Chatty Cathy. Thanks for reading.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh! I so wanted a Chatty Cathy doll when I was a kid. Luckily, my parents realized it would be passing fancy. My best friend had one, though, so I got to play with hers. Thanks for a great memory.
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Dear Lish,
My Chatty Cathy had a good life. 😉 Happy to share memories. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Super portrait – I’m amazed you made it on an Etch a Sketch! The quirky little details you include in your story make it intriguing and special.
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Dear Penny,
Thank you on all counts. 😀 Etch-A-Sketch is a challenge to draw on but I enjoy it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle
Have just posted my link and picked up your etch a sketch image ! Don’t know how that happened, and I can’t get in the post from here to read it at the moment as Firefox is blocking it out (here we go again)
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2019/05/22/friday-fictioneers-24th-may/
It might have picked up the wrong link anyway so I’ll have another go. It hasn’t been a good week!
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It was me, DUH!!!!
Done it again, and there I am, it having overwritten yours
I think it;s time for bed!
Have a good evening my friend.
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it looks like it was the precursor for the ipad and the microsoft surface. i could only imagine what magic you can do with these gadgets. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
I’m not sure it was the precursor to the iPad but it kept me entertained. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, what a sweet reminisce and what an awesome sketch with your etch-a-sketch. Impressive!
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Dear Jade,
Thank you for your affirming comments. 😀 Makes me day.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are very welcome 🙂
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Wow! I think your sketch stole the spotlight. Amazing work, just amazing!
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Dear Fatima,
The Etch-A-Sketch definitely stole the spotlight. 😉 No matter. It’s still my work. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How on Earth did you manage to draw that on an Etch-a-Sketch? 🙂
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It’s all about coordinating the right and left knobs, Ali. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wasn’t so into dolls with two older brothers to follow around (and bug) but I LOVED the Etch-a-sketch!! An Interesting tidbit about the Chatty Cathy doll. Always a pleasure to read your stories each week, Rochelle! =)
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Dear Brenda,
I was a girlie girl and I liked my dolls. The one I wanted was Raggedy Ann. Never got one, though. 😀 Thank you!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was half and half I guess. It was also important to keep up with my brothers too. =) My daughter was a girlie girl and loved the Cabbage Patch dolls then on to the American Girl dolls. My parents sort of spoiled her (but in a good way.) I’m sorry you never got a Raggedy Ann. It’s never too late…
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A great product created by André Cassagne, a product that endured test of time.
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Dear Abhijit,
I had my original Etch-A-Sketch for many years. It couldn’t stand up to my kids, though. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved the story. It brought back memories of your dolls. Especially the Talking Tina that you still emulate to this day sometimes. “Hi. I’m talking Tina and I’m going to kill you.” What a nightmare that gave to so many kids. And adults also. I also remember the antique doll you had in the antique stroller. Just plain scary. Having said this about that..story, the etch-a-sketch drawings you did always amazed me. I really loved this one of me. And to think you did that in the car while I was driving. Bumps and all. You are just plain amazing M’luv.
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Aw shucks, m’luv. BTW I need a new Etch-A-Sketch. That one didn’t last long. They don’t make them like they used to. The antique doll was scary and, admittedly, not fixable. She was giving Christian nightmares, so I had to kick her to the curb. Still have the antique buggy though. 😉 Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Brilliant stuff Rochelle, wish I still had mine, I have no idea where that went, I suspect my Mum”cleared” it out
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Dear Shrawley,
My mother would never have gotten rid of my Etch-A-Sketch. When I was a child, she would snatch it away to show her friends at work my latest creation before I could erase it. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! Your talent is AMAZING Rochelle !
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Thank you, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s a great picture on the Etch-a-Sketch and a great story too. It’s such a unique toy and fun for doodling. I’m always impressed at people like you who have the patience and coordination to make real art on them.
-David
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Dear David,
There are those who exceed me on the Etch-A-Sketch…even make careers with their art. Personally, I find it relaxing. It’s all a matter of coordinating the left and right knobs. I’m glad you liked my story, too. I’m beginning to wonder if anyone’s reading it…so dazzled are they by my sketch. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’d be afraid of how ephemeral the medium of etch-a-sketch is. You finish a month-long project, then trip and it’s all gone. Gotta photograph it quick, I guess. 🙂
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Oh that Chatty Cathy Video was great – and what a great day for me to drop by!
Wow -“you can tell it’s Mattel -It’s swell”
And then the etch-a-sketch – cool that you still have fun with one – we had the mini key chain versions a few years ago.
Anyhow – just wanted to say hello, Rochelle, and hope you are having a nice month of May
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Thanks for dropping by, Yvette. Hope all’s well in your world.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Wow. I have to respect anyone who can draw that well on an etch a sketch! Loved that toy! And spirographs, too!
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Dear Andrea,
What can I say? The Etch-A-Sketch and I have a good relationship. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great memories, Rochelle 🙂
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Thank you, Adele.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sigh. For some reason, the blue frog doesn’t like me. When I log in to InLinkz, it says it’s sending me a verification email, but said email never shows. Oh well. Here’s my link for this week.
https://fivedotoh.com/2019/05/24/friday-fictioneers-fifth-birthday-party/
By the way, that’s an incredible Etch-a-Sketch drawing.
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You’re linked, Fandango. Thank you for the compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Am I the only one having trouble with InLinkz?
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Pensitivity has had quite an issue with it, too. So you’re not the only one.
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I always post my Friday Fictioneers response on Fridays and by there time I would post it, there would typically be around 70 or more posts connected to InLinkz, but over the past couple of weeks, it’s been a lot less. For example, when I tried to link this morning, there were only 48. So I imagine that it’s more than just Di and me who are having difficulties. It used to be simple to link, but for some reason, they changed it and made it more difficult and burdensome. Progress, huh?
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My girls used to fight over possession of Tiny Tears – I wouldn’t have allowed a talking doll in the house, they creep me out! Etch-a Sketch is still available, I believe. And welcome home.
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Thank you, Liz.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, yes. The toys and games of yesteryear. Nice job. I never got the hang of etch a sketch.
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Dear Shirley,
Those toys didn’t need batteries or computer programs, did they? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great take on the prompt, Rochelle. Nice sketch of Jan.
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Many thanks, Maria.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi, all, Bear here… yes, it is really me. Sometime last weekend at Hamvention, my phone and all attached things were hacked! Argh! Got new phone finally after hours with tech support. Grrrr…. Anyway, I feel a bit like this poor little donkey this week.
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Dear Mkwa Starfire,
Sorry you’ve had so much trouble lately. You always manage to come back, my warrior friend. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And people wonder why I hate phones, and merely tolerate computers. 🙂 ~ Bear
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Querida Rochelle,
FUN … FUN … FUN … memories. I enjoyed the info on N.Cassagnes and that Etch-O-Sketch
game. I never could do anything except straight lines. Such a wonderful recreation of Jan from you on that little gadget. Bravo!
Have a super weekend … glad you’re back.
Abrazos y carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
¡Mil gracias, mi amiga! Glad you enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane. 😉 I haven’t decided if it’s good to be back.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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Loved this. With your digging in to get us all these little tidbits, I wonder have you read ‘Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture’ by James Burke? If not I think you will enjoy it.
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Dear Subroto,
I’ve not heard of the book. Perhaps I’ll look it up. Glad you enjoyed my story. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A nice little glimpse into your childhood. Thank you for this – it sent me back to my own childhood toys, and how I used to spend hours knitting little clothes for my dolls. Lovely story.
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Dear Margaret,
I used to draw clothes for my paper dolls. 😉 I’m impressed that you knit them for your dolls. I never could get the hang of it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, this brings back fond memories of my etch-a-sketch. I could never get a decent tune out of it though.
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🤣🤣🤣 Thank you, Michael. Keep trying. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m thinking you tried the wrong knob for selecting the right radio frequency. Lol.
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Dear Lilly Putian W(T)F,
Thanks for giving Detective Lowry a brief vacation while you globe-trotted to the Middle East. I’m sure they have a totally different concept of America after Chatty Shelley’s visit.
They must have had an Etch-A-Sketch class at Walla Walla Bing Bang. You appeared to have mastered it, but then again, you were always good at twisting people’s buttons.
Ari Ben Cain-raiser
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Dear Ari Ben Can-raiser,
I hope Detective Lowry is on his toes. I’ll give him no more respites. The do not remove tags are more interesting in Hebrew. 😉
Happy to know my old Alma Mater has stepped up their cultural game. Go WWBB! Twisting buttons is an art form, too.
Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Lilly Putian W(T)F
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Your curiosity is an inspiration and a gift to us all!
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What a sweet thing to say, Dawn. Thank you. 😀 ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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