The Treasure Behind the Wall Unit
It's amazing what you can find when you stop looking.
Like all kids do, she was exploring.
And I am not sure how but she managed to peek into the space between the wall and the back of the bookshelf/wall unit that we have in the living room. This is not a lot of space: an inch, tops.
And she found a toy with her little fingers. Actually she managed to find a few toys. Later, I got the broom out and using the handle tried to dig out the rest of whatever the hell was back there and below is just some of the stuff we found:
Let me tell you about the last time we cleaned behind there: NEVER.
About 7 years ago BW hired a handyman to go through the entire house and fasten anything and everything that might be able to fall over on the child as a precautionary measure. This was and is a very good idea because things can happen and it’s a good idea to be safe.
This means that it’s been 7 years since we cleaned back there and the photo you see above is just a taste of the stuff you saw.
So far this isn’t much of a story, I know. We cleaned behind the bookshelf and we found some dust bunnies and crap . Woo. Hoo.
Unless, you are Seven. If you were 7-years-old and had a newsletter it would read like this:
OMG You guys my dad cleaned behind the wall unit and he found a whole lot of stuff behind there that I’ve been missing for ages, but now that I have them again I love them so much and want to play with them over and over again but Dad says I have to go to bed and that’s not FAIR!
All this to say that the Big Saturday Night here has been playing with long forgotten toys - and sometimes even just parts of toys - and they are the best thing ever. She’s made complete scenarios with some old play-doh bits and a half-eaten squishmallow that looks like the dog has enjoyed more than her.
Stay tuned for next time when we actually move the wall unit away from the wall to see what’s behind there.
You never know what you will find when you start to look.
TH and co.
Actually, the excitement did last for today at least, but I fear the novelty is wearing off.
This really captures the magic of a kid's perspective brilliantly. The way forgotten toys become instant treasures again is someting I've seen with my own nephew after he rediscovered a box in the garage. Accidental scarcity creates value in ways deliberate organizing never could. Curious if the excitment lasted beyond the first night!