I had to go digging through my kid’s rooms to find him but he’s still here. He’s the very first Buzz Lightyear collectible I ever bought. I purchased him at The Magic Kingdom in Florida on my honeymoon in June of 1996. Toy Story was released in November of 1995 and this was 7 months later. Being the first feature-length computer animated film my interest went far beyond the story. Everything about it thrilled me… but especially the movie’s main character, a squatty grey and green suited spaceman.

I remember seeing this toy for the first time, being amazed that there was an actual toy that looked exactly like the ‘toy’ in the movie. He was what we would now call an “instabuy”. I took him out of the box and literally played with him back at the hotel. This is something I really regret now… but he was so awesome!

He spent the next year on my computer desk. Any friends that came over with children loved to play with him. One young man in particular will always live in infamy for breaking and then denying the breakage of the wing ejection button. Nic was 8 at the time. He’s now in his 20’s. You did it Nic. Time to face the music!

Years later Buzz made another appearance that sticks out in my memory. There was a man in our church who had a wife dying of cancer. We went to see him, and her… and for some strange reason I took Buzz with me to give to the man. I even told him, “I don’t know why but I want you to keep him till she’s better.” He responded as if I had given him the best gift in the world. Buzz stayed in that hospital room for quite a while. The poor lady lost her battle and Buzz came home.

A few years later that man met and married my sister.

Buzz sat on various office shelves over the next few years until 2008 when we had our son. He went to live with little James. First as a nursery decoration and later on as a real toy.

He’s scuffed and scratched. His batteries need replacing. His wings don’t pop out anymore (Nic!) but he will always be my first Buzz. He turns 17 this June.