This year has really taken a toll on all of us. From an international pandemic to political conflicts, environmental crises and other catastrophes, it’s hard to remember what “normal” felt like. So, I thought I would take you back to a simpler time, when the world had way less on its plate. Without further ado, here are 5 things you probably forgot existed:
1) Fidget spinners
This is a more recent invention, but when was the last time you saw one of these? These used to be all the rage with children and teenagers mostly, used for fun or for stress relief. Also, they came in different sizes and colors and I vividly remember one video with more fidget spinners on top of each other doing their thing – spinning. That’s all there is to say about them, really.. Next!
2) 90s colorful plastic springs
What a blast these were to play with! Twist them, pull them, drop them from the top of the staircase and watch them unfold to the bottom. As they were rainbow colored, the best part was getting to see all the colors when the spring spread. But oh, the horror of getting them tangled.. I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone.
3) Flip phones
The attitude these brought when you hung up the phone! Back in the day, these were not just a bare necessity, they were a fashion statement. You could bedazzle them, attach a funky key-ring, and take some mirror selfies too. So, if this made you feel nostalgic, Samsung’s latest model is a hybrid of a touchscreen and an old school flip phone with a futuristic look. Smash that piggy bank and spoil yourself!
4) Anime card games
Every lunch break at kindergarten or primary school was dedicated to these game card wars. Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, Bakugan, you name it. Friendships were at stake. No force could interrupt the intense card exchange and chanting. Maybe just the school bell ringing for another class..
5) Abacus
Otherwise known as “that board with beads that you could use to learn how to count”, this was a must-have growing up. Most likely every household with a toddler had one, as they were both entertaining and educative. This counting tool has quite an interesting history too, being used in the ancient Near East (Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia), as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa and Native America ever since 2700-2300 BC. This happened way before the Arabic numeral system was adopted.
Have I managed to take you on a trip down memory lane? If so, stay tuned for another set of things you forgot existed, in my future articles.
Meanwhile, check out another post that will take you back in time, right here: RBD – Where are they now?
