As a child, what was your favorite/most memorable Christmas gift?

The two gifts I remember wishing for the most…and receiving…were the “Little Miss Hostess Buffet” by Marx and a telescope.

The “Little Miss Hostess Buffet” was a child-sized buffet (sideboard) made of plastic that had been painted to look like French Provincial (!) furniture. It came with plastic colored “silverware”, plastic “crystal” and plastic “china” with a “silver” colored full tea set….so that you could “entertain dignitaries” (I suppose) in style. I had wished so hard for this. And I was not disappointed. :) It was 60’s tacky plastic and stylin’!

My second most memorable gift and one that I was crazy for…was a telescope as I was really into astronomy in grade school. I think I was about 11 when I got one, so I don’t think “Santa” figured into it….I did have to convince my father that it was a worthwhile purchase as it was “spendy” for the time. It came from Sears.

You know what was really cool? I actually was able to find those two toys online——someone has actually archived the Sears and Western Auto and FAO Schwartz catalogues from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

And what is interesting…is that I still collect dishes (can never have enough vintage plates) and still wonder if life does exist on Mars (it does).

What was your favorite/most memorable gift at Christmas?