WIND-UP TOYS FOR GRANDMA

He saw this box sitting on the small shelf above my monitor.  "Look at that!"  Would I scan it for him; how come I had a wind-up toy?  No, I bought it before becoming a grandmother to the adorable Roxie, his daughter. 

We were halfway through a long day in the City.  Nick, our son, had presented  at Columbia University on the highly controversial "master builder" of the 20th century, Robert Moses.  Museum exhibitions and this two-day symposium, "Remaking the Metropolis," have been part of a major reassessment of his impact on the shape of New York-- parks, highways, bridges, neighborhoods.

Just before his Roxie was born in January, Nick completed his latest book, a history of public housing in New York City.  At 9 a.m. Saturday morning, seeming not at all sleep-deprived by fatherhood, he spoke of Moses' impact on the City's public housing.  Turns out this was an area in which the controversial "power broker" had less influence and interest than people assume.  This postcard announcement features two of the buildings in the six-building complex where I live.  Around it are the larger public housing buildings across the street from us.  Both projects were the result of massive land clearance in the 1950s--directed by Robert Moses. 

Last year I saw "Heddatron," a play based on "Hedda Gabler," updated and with robots.  Called "dopey and strangely moving" by the New York Times' reviewer, I found it hilarious.  Though I'm not quite sure about the connection to Ibsen.  Loved the robots...not quite sure about this either.  I have yet to try my own wind-up Roxy Robot.  Will take her to Portland visit with grandson Zach who has lost the key to his robot toy purchased at the same time. 

Described on the box (make in China) as a "domestic robot," my curiousity is stirred by her pinkness and ruffled apron.  Something evocative of the 1930s in tin toys, robots, knit teddy bears.  Maybe I'm regressing.

Comments

[maryec]

She looks pretty formidable to me. I wouldn't want to cross her.

[sahara]

She kinda' reminds me of "Rosie," the robot maid, on the Jetsons.

I grew up in public housing. The McKinley houses were a federally funded housing project. In fact, all of the fed houses are named after presidents. I still have friends who reside in Grant Houses.

Back in the 60's, compared to the tenements, the projects were okay (with a few design bugaboos, like the elevators). Public housing (as I was told) was considered a "stopping point"––a step toward owning your own home. No one thought that racism, mis-management, and the deterioration of the economy was gonna keep us there.