What goes Down, Sometimes Comes Up.

YO-YO CONVENTION

Starting Thursday (March 24) and running through the weekend the 16th annual Yo-Yo and Skill Toy Convention will take over the Spinning Top and Yo-Yo museum in Burlington, Wisconsin. Even in our age of electronic games, the convention floor will be jammed with people of all ages fascinated by a toy that's been around for more than a century.

There will be yo-yo exhibits, demonstrations, workshops for youngsters, and contests to see who can perform the longest sleeper and walk the dog. I can remember being about to rock the baby with my Duncan Yo-Yo. At one time it was the Holy Grail of the yo-yo world.

I wonder how many of us can remember our first (and perhaps only) yo-yo? Today most folks think of "Yo-Yo" as a phrase followed by either WAZUP? or Dude as in "Yo-Yo Wazup Dude?". I can remember when buying a yo-yo was a big decision and if you could afford it the butterfly was the best. There were special stings to buy, magazines instructing you on the various tricks, contests to participate in.

It is good to see in this age of video games that some still hold true to tradition. The yo-yo still is right up there with marbles and kite flying in my book. Plus I can do it outside where my mother said I should spend my time. Until she calls me for supper.