THE KALEIDOSCOPE

Looking more like a large pepper shaker and made with seemingly broken plastic chips, my kaleidoscope was viewed early and often by eight year old hands. All(s) I had to do was turn the dial or twist the dial and various shapes and colors would appear. Optimal viewing demanded it be held up to sunlight for clarity.

I loved that toy. The creative process it allowed me kept me interested for a few minutes, yet it seemed like I viewed it for hours. But that's the way with time to a kid. It's so slow. And wonderful.

And I had the power to destroy or linger over my creation. With one twist I could demonstrate total domination over what I wanted. I could gently turn or twist with authority and a new screen would appear. It was for the adept and the irrational. The patient and the antsy.

It didn't take much to give ignition to the youthful mind in those days. After all, the imagination is a terrible thing to waste.