I would love to hear your stories/memories <3

[Quill]

This thread is so precious, I love reading all your stories. It's so wonderful how ponies have brought so many people together and been a bright spot in so many people's lives, I can definitely relate to that.

I have about a million pony stories, but the most recent one I can think of was last summer. I was at Heroes Con in NC and was hunting down all the MLP comic book artists to get their signatures. I was waiting in line at a table (it was Andy Price's exhibit if I remember right) and there was this dad there with a little girl I assume was his daughter. He asked me if I was there for My Little Pony artists and I confirmed that I was. Then he turned to his daughter and said, "See? You don't have to outgrow My Little Pony!"

It was just the sweetest thing ever, especially because when I was a kid, I was super embarrassed by my pony collecting because it was "supposed" to be for little kids. It was nice to see a parent being supportive of their kid liking whatever makes them happy.

Plus I got a lot of signatures, which was super cool.

 

[Krose]

These stories are all so sweet! I just have to chime in with one of my own.

I was seven years old when G3 started in 2003. My first exposure to MLP was through the G3 toy commercials, and even though horses had never been my thing, I instantly fell in love. As far as I was concerned, they were a perfect toy: pastel animals with long hair that you could play with like a doll. I mean, has there ever been anything else so in-tune with what little girls like? I had to have them.

There was one thing standing in the way of my pony playtime: my parents. Let me preface this by saying that I have an awesome set of parents, who let me experiment with whatever type of toys I wanted. Barbie? Fabulous. G.I. Joe? No problemo. Lego? As long as I didn't leave bricks on the ground for them to step on, game on. However, I had a hell of a time convincing them that ponies were the way of the future. They could get behind a lot of things, but MLP looked awfully...babyish. For months, I got the same response whenever I asked about them: "You're too old for those, wouldn't you rather have something else?"

No! I wouldn't! I kept asking and asking. Summer shone on, leaves fell in Autumn, and the ice was attaching itself to our windows before I finally got my first ponies for Christmas. My big gift that year was the Celebration Salon with Amberlocks, and because a salon needed customers to stay in business, my parents threw in a Sunny Daze and a Strawberry Swirl. I was ecstatic. And although my parents never quite came around to understanding why I loved ponies so much, that playset gave me many, many years of play.

The celebration salon was the only big MLP playset I ever had, but over a few years I did amass a collection of (I believe) fourteen ponies and a pile of VHS tapes. My original toys were sadly lost to time, but I'm working on getting them all back. I'm hopeful that someday, I'll even be able to find another Celebration Salon!

 

[Starflower]

@skig
I SO had to laugh about the ugly couch alerts! And I really, really loved your pictures, that is so cute! Thank you for taking the time to post them!
And then your brother, lying about the pony game. For a second I read there was a game, I read it wrong and was all happy because I love retro games. And then I thought wait maybe I didn’t read it right and that was indeed the case, stupid me
I could so relate to all your stories, wanting ones you couldn’t have and mommies saying no.
I also met people through MLP and people that are still good friends today, isn’t that great? I btw looked into your webpage with the customs; beautiful!! I love it


@Ziegirl
Oh my yes I wish more people would think like that dad! I think many people indeed stopped because it is not considered ‘cool’ at some point. And sometimes make descisions they regret later like selling the collection or giving it away. That is sad. And yes, MLP is such a bright happy thing for so many people, I love it! Glad to hear you had such an amazing time at Heroes Con


@Krose
I loved your story! So well written! Yay for your perseverance, because they were and are indeed the PERFECT toys! I wonder what they are saying now that you are still collecting?