Cooties

My apartment is decorated, in part, with toys, games, and other artifacts from the 1960s, the era in which I grew up. They feel like old friends and help make my home feel, well, homey.

I decided yesterday to post a photo of one of those items every Wednesday — a “What’s THAT? Wednesday” feature in which I will challenge my readers to identify the item and to share their memories and other responses. I’m a day late and a dollar short — honestly, does anyone know what day of the week it is any more? And does it matter in the LEAST? — starting with a layup (Look at me, using a sports metaphor!): I’ve already told you what this one is!

I can’t imagine a more fitting object (the creature in the foreground, not the cookie jar behind it) with which to launch this feature, given the world’s current obsession with all things contagious. I’m actually surprised I haven’t yet seen any reference to Cooties in the deluge of words that has flooded the Internet (I still capitalize the I) in the past two months. After all, they’re “Sanitary Wrapped”!

So, tell me, do Cooties resonate with you in any way? Did you have a Cootie game when you were a kid? Did you give yourself a Cootie vaccination? Or create a Cootie catcher?

Do tell!!! I can’t wait to hear your stories!