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Published on 12/01/1997 All articles from this issue

Los Altos memoir writing class publishes book about authors' playtimes of the past

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By Rita Jamison

Special to the Town Crier

While family ties are weakening, according to modern observers, Colleen Watson's memoir writing class is strengthening the links between generations.

Here, parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents are preserving memories that will enhance their descendents' understanding and bring hours of pleasure to readers of all ages.

Sponsored by the Mountain View-Los Altos Adult Education Program, the class meets Fridays at the Los Altos Senior Center, 97 Hillview Ave.

Continuing a tradition started years ago by previous instructors, the group has self-published a 107-page book titled, "Once Upon a Playtime." It contains 22 stories by local residents.

Watson's introduction reads, "Memories of playtime long ago bring into focus the great changes that have transpired in children's activities over the past 80-plus years ... "

She notes, "These writings leave a priceless legacy for the children and grandchildren of the authors."

Illustrated with black-and-white drawings, the book's pages represent countless hours of individual writing, class critiques and editing by those involved. The authors hope that "Once Upon a Playtime" will encourage all who read it to self-publish their own individual memoirs.

The following verses from "Antique Youngsters at Play," the one poem in the collection, summarize the book's theme:

"Years before plastic and Kiddie World toys,

TV shows and computer-game jargon,

With unstructured time, kids created games

And had freedom to dream in the bargain!

"It was a time of mud pies, swings, rubber balls,

Grand leaf houses, haystacks and stilts,

Paper, rubber and celluloid dolls,

Packing-box forts, tents made with old quiIts."

In those days, youngsters created playtime activities from what was at hand. They transformed bedrooms into theaters for shadow plays behind sheets, and they made scooters out of apple boxes.

Stones replaced store-bought jacks, and paper sailboats bobbed about in watering troughs. Imagination plus nails, wire, wood and grit produced gliders. More mature readers will recall "Blind Man's Bluff," "Felix the Cat," and those durable "pimple balls" that sold for a nickel.

Dedicated "to children from 1 to 101," this small book is a gem.

A book-signing party will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on this Friday in Room 17 at the Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave.

For more information, call (408) 243-0485.