I don't think I'm alone in feeling a really weird sense of gratification when my memories of specific materialistic things from my childhood match up with someone else's. Maybe it's because I was so in my head all the time that I sometimes wonder what was actually going on, as opposed to what I thought was happening? I was odd. Anyways, if you are like me, then this AskReddit thread about all the things from your childhood you thought no one remembered but you will fill you with glee. I promise.
The full question that made up the prompt reads as follows: "What's an obscure thing from your childhood that you're nostalgic about that no one else seems to remember?" Like, for example, did anyone grow up primarily on public television? All those PBS shows were so definitive in my childhood, and yet no one else seems to remember them. How does no one remember Zoom?! It was the bomb! Luckily for me, a ton of folks on Reddit do, so now I no longer have to feel like my memories are faulty. Yes, Zoom existed; yes, other people remember it; and yes, it is very sad for those of you who have no idea what it is. I'm sorry.
I should note that the below list are simply things that I personally remember and am very relieved were experienced by other humans. If you have some items to add, which I'm sure most of you do, then head on over to the thread and prepare yourself for some seriously gratifying Internet interactions.
1. BLO Pens
I got these "airbrush pens" for my birthday one year and immediately covered everything I owned with splotches of paint, watered down with my own spit.
2. The ACME Cartoon Hour
This block of classic cartoons ran from 1995 to 2003. It introduced me to Porkie the Pig, Tom and Jerry, and Bettie Boop — and led me to think I was literally the best impressionist that had ever lived. Sorry, Mom and Dad.
3. E.L. Fudge Cookies
Turns out the "E.L." stands for "Everybody Loves." Ugh, so true, Keebler. My grandpa used to sneak these to me while we worked on bird houses in his backyard, and looking back on it now, it could have been to keep me from doing my Porkie the Pig impression for the 50th time in a row. Just a theory.
4. Bear in the Big Blue House
This puppet television show that also sometimes featured live humans began in 1997 and survived until the early 2000s. To be honest, I'm with this guy in terms of grown-up me being veeeery put off by that giant, life-sized bear puppet thing.
5. Zoom!
It was honestly like a dream of mine to get to be on this public television program that featured Real Kids doing Real Things and dancing a lot. What I wouldn't have given to shout "OH-two-ONE-three-FOUR" and then struck a really cool pose when I said my name. It would have involved a spin. Just saying.
6. Crocodile Dentist
This game follows in the trend of children's games involving exotic animals that were fun, but also really stressful — Hungry Hungry Hippos fans, get at me.
7. Lion King Bug Pops
Honestly, the '90s were truly a time when children's food just straight up did not look like something edible. Like, that was a consistent theme. Popsicles that had gummy worms in them so that you could pretend to be a grub-eating warthog, for example, were a cult favorite.
