Happy 50th Birthday Lego!

I couldn't even begin to calculate the number of hours I spent playing with Legos as a kid. I still remember my first set: it was a gray and white spaceship with a cool little mini figure astronaut pilot. I was always fascinated with the precise way the bricks fit together to form the amazing vehicles, robots, and playsets.

This month Lego celebrates its 50th birthday.

I used to have a giant tub that I kept all of my Legos in. More often than not they would make it back in to the tub after an afternoon of building and play, but there were always a few strays that would be left out on the carpet. And mom would inevitably step on one barefoot in the middle of the night.

I think it must be some sort of parental karmic retribution, because now I have a son who likes Legos and who also leaves them out for me to step on in the middle of the night.

Still, I think Legos--no matter what incarnation they're in--are one of the most perfect toys ever created. They encourage imagination, creativity, and help kids learn to visualize three dimensionally. Here's celebrating 50 years of Lego, and here's to 50 more!