All I wanted for Christmas was an Evel Knievel Super Stunt Cycle with Gyro Launcher.

Once upon a time long, long ago (1973), every eleven-year-old boy in America wanted to be Evel Knievel.

Moms in 70’s America worried about a lot, but if they had a son between 8 and 18, they worried about Evel Knievel.

Mr. Knievel made his living wearing a skintight American-themed jumpsuit and cape while driving a motorcycle 100 miles per hour and jumping over buses, cars or anything else he liked.

The Evel Knievel Super Stunt Cycle toy had a hand crank which you wound quickly to get the back wheel of the motorcycle spinning. With a quick stop of the handle, you would launch it. The Knievel bike and doll would scream away and over a ramp.

I waited months for Christmas and that toy to arrive.

Sure enough, on Christmas Eve (Santa visited us on Christmas Eve, not morning) as my parents led us into the living room, there it was under the tree. I was beyond excited.

But, wait. “Too dark to play with that now. Wait until morning,” they said.

I was awake most of the night thinking of the impressive stunts I’d do the next morning.

Finally, sunrise.

As the rest of my family still slept, I threw on my robe, grabbed my stunt cycle and made my way outside with my dream toy.

I loaded it, cranked it, and launched it.

And it broke on the very first launch.

The bike landed on its back instead of the wheels and pieces flew everywhere when it hit the concrete.

I sat and stared in disbelief. Evel was down and he wasn’t getting back up.

It was 1973 and there was no Super Glue.

With my dreams shattered, I spent the rest of the holiday and most of 1974 brooding over my loss.

But the years that have passed have given me perspective. I have learned that there are much more important things in life than toys. For example, technology.

Like eBay.

Where I found an Evel Knievel Super Stunt Cycle with Gyro Launcher, mint in the box.

It should be here by Christmas.

©2014 John Moore