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This was the first Ode Challenge since I reinstated it with a more open subject matter and it got off to a less than stellar start with only four entries. That being said, the entries were all fantastic and put this old dogs paws on an incredible walk down memory lane. You were all winners this time and as such I am awarding a tie for third so that everyone gets something for the memories you brought to me with your wonderful writes. It was hard to choose the best and in the end I let nostalgia rank you.
The winners from 3rd to 1st: 3rd place tie @steemedchitty - Ode to Legos @lymmerik - Ode to GI Joe Both of these toys were a part of my youth but came later in my life when I was in school and friendships were forged in building blocks and role playing with action figures. They were important parts of my development socially and as I read your odes they took me back to long gone friends in long ago times. You will both receive two SBD for your creativity. Thank You.
2nd place: @chrisroberts - Ode to Lincoln Logs Not much further back in my life the other two odes were important for a different reason and it was very hard to choose between first and second. When I was young, way back in the seventies, we would go to my grandmothers every weekend. She had Lincoln Logs and toy soldiers and my brothers and I would spend hours in the sand pile in her backyard building and bonding. I rarely see my siblings now but reading your odes took me back in a smiling canoe on a river of tears. They were powerful and wonderful. I had to make a choice and the toy soldiers got first for tangibility, which I'll explain in a moment. Chris receives 3 SBD for his most amazing effort. Thank You.
1st place: @g-force1980 - Ode to Toy Soldiers As stated in the earlier testimonial my earliest memories of toys were the hours I spent with my brothers on a sand pile creating war zones and heroes out of plastic and wood. Good times. This ode won 1st for a forward jump in my life. When I was 17 I joined the National Guard and went away to my training at Fort Benning, GA. I got home the day before Christmas in 1984. My family was all at our house to welcome me back and my mother had baked a cake for the occasion. On the cake were toy soldiers and a toy military jeep. The same toy soldiers I had played with in my youth. She had gone to my grandmother, chose some soldiers to build the scene, cleaned them up and made me as proud of her as she was of me at that moment. I still have those six soldiers and that jeep packed away somewhere in a little tin. The feelings that they drew up were monumental. The feelings that your ode brought up were just as amazing. Thank You. G-force1980 gets the top prize of 5 SBD.
The SBD I'm paying to the winners is in no way equal to what you have given to me with the odes you wrote. All of you. You have my sincerest Thank You. I had no idea when I chose the subject for the competition that the writes would be so spectacular. You all did an amazing job with your writes and hit me dead-on in my heart.
I will be posting the next challenge shortly. ![JAPH2.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYZ6frCme2jBH5xp1JvBQuYuGFd2TJzeFfwcUzrYBYQUC/JAPH2.gif)