The Toy You Can't Throw Out

Everyone has that one toy, right? You know what I'm talking about: the toy you've had since childhood that you just can't throw away, give away, or sell on eBay. For me, it's the above pictured Cat in the Hat talking doll. Mattel put a couple of these out in the '70s. They were different sizes and had different records in them with different voices that spoke slightly different catchphrases.

Mine was famous for saying more often than not: "Does your mother know I'm here?"

In the video below, I pull the string a bunch of times and you can hear all the phrases. And while the turntable speed is clearly off, I don't recall it ever sounding great. Even as a kid this cat always sounded a bit creepy.

How about you, Neatoramanauts? What's the one toy YOU can't get rid of? Let us know in the comments below...

I still have my 31 year old teddy bear.. Ted Ted... Poor thing is a rag with a nose now...

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I have a pair of stuffed rabbits that my mother claims I’ve had since I was a toddler. One is larger, so naturally the mommy, and the other is gender ambiguous child. When they got grubby she would only put one in the wash at a time otherwise I’d throw a fit, apparently. I don’t remember any of this, or even the rabbits in particular, but I think my subconscious does, because I have felt the need to keep them. I don’t even see myself letting future children play with them.

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I'm 38yo and still have my (rather large) box full of Legos. And nobody can take it away from me!
I'm not even sure that if I have a kid someday, I'll let him/her play with MY Legos. ;-)

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None here. My house burned down when I was 17. But my kids have their most precious security objects from early childhood carefully stored, and they get them out occasionally.

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I have a Hawaiian rag doll that I've had since I was 2 months old. My mom & I flew to Oahu to meet up with dad while he was on R&R from the Vietnam war. It's where he got to meet me for the first time. I've had it 43 years and will never get rid of it. I keep the doll in my cedar chest.

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I'll decline to answer out of operational security concerns.

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My Barbies - well played with and I'm pretty sure worthless to anyone but me. For my daughter? She's 14 now & I can't seem to get rid of her "Woody" and "Buzz Lightyear" from Toy Story. They keep going right back on the shelf.

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A well-loved little Big Bird, with a little sweater crocheted by my mom. He's not going anywhere except with me!

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My boomerang. Just can't seem to throw it away.

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I have an original Care Bear from the 80's. My 5-year-old has recently kidnapped him.

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