This brings back a few memories. I had forgotten there were so many variants on the “Choose Your Own Adventure” concept. Am thinking a few of these, or at least the “young reader” incarnations, would make for interesting bedtime reading for the boys.

This is the lightswitch plate I had in my bedroom when I was a boy. It was handpainted by Corinne Ficek, a friend of our family. I no longer live at home but my mom sent this along as a keepsake, or, as I like to think of it, an heirloom for the next deserving nerd in my family.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe I was already a long-time subscriber to Odyssey magazine at 9 ¹⁄₂ years of age. I knew all of my constellations, stars, galaxies, and various planetary mission. I always enjoyed the artwork submission section - usually filled with amazing drawings by high school age students - and finally came up with a “new” idea for a submission: I would create a picture by coloring and cutting out pieces of a space scene and pasting them on black cardboard paper.