I Love You More Today Than Yesterday

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When you were a kid, did your mom, dad, aunt, uncle or grandparent sing to you? As a mom, dad, aunt, uncle or grandparent, do you sing to your favorite kids? If so, what song? 

When I was a toddler, I can remember my mother singing, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray." For those who don't know this song, see below. It's Carly Simon's slow-ass version, but you'll recognize it just the same.

Sure "You Are My Sunshine" was a sweet song, but not as sweet as "More Today Than Yesterday" by Spiral Starecase -- sometimes misspelled Spiral Staircase. Spiral Starecase was obviously one of those 1960s one-hit-wonders. Many artists covered this song including Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder. 

This morning, I woke up mentally singing, "I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as toooo-morrrrrrow" and thought of my mother. Mom would rock me in her arms and dance with me around our small ranch house in Oakdale, New York (a quaint town in Suffolk County on Long Island). All would be right with the world when Mom would sing to me. Things were gonna be okay.  

"More Today Than Yesterday" lyrics are as follows:

I don’t remember what day it was
I didn’t notice what time it was
All I know is that I fell in love with you
And if all my dreams come true
I’ll be spending time with you

Every day’s a new day in love with you
With each day comes a new way of loving you
Every time I kiss your lips my mind starts to wander
And if all my dreams come true
I’ll be spending time with you

Oh, I love you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
I love you more today than yesterday
But, darling, not as much as tomorrow

Tomorrow’s date means springtime’s just a day away
Cupid, we don’t need ya now, be on your way
I thank the lord for love like ours that grows ever stronger
And I always will be true
I know you feel the same way too

Oh, I love you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
I love you more today than yesterday
But only half as much as tomorrow

The NeverEnding Story | Barret Oliver & Noah Hathaway

Noah Hathaway and Barret Oliver, NeverEnding Story cuties

Ahhh ... 1984 was an awesome year. Okay, maybe not as great as 1982, but still a very awesome year.

Today a friend slapped an image of Falkor the luckdragon on my Facebook page. For those of you too young or old to remember -- Falkor was the dog-like creature from the 1984 classic children's movie, The NeverEnding Story. The film is based on a German epic fantasy tale. Sadly, the only thing I can remember about seeing it back in July of 1984, are the two main characters, Bastian (Barret Oliver) and Atreyu (Noah Hathaway). Why? Because they were smokin' hot to an 11-year-old me.

That summer, I was all about these two cuties and Ralph Macchio from Karate Kid, of course. I think it was somewhat comforting knowing Barret and Noah were closer to my own age, though Ralph ruled the walls of my bedroom. Put it this way ..  if a Tiger Beat pin-up featured Ralph Macchio on one-side and Noah Hathaway on the other, I'm quite sure Macchio would win. 

Watch The NeverEnding Story Trailer

Barret Oliver & Noah Hathaway Today

Barret Oliver in the late '80s

Today Barret Oliver (D.A.R.Y.L. and Cocoon) teaches photography in LA and wrote a book, A History of Woodburytype, about a special 19th Century photo mechanical process or something. Unfortunately, I'm unable to Google image a recent photo of him other than from the late 1980s.  

Noah Hathaway today

Noah Hathaway (Battlestar Galactica) still acts and has done several indie films. Here's what he looks like today. For a while, I was convinced he was actually Noah Wyle from ER. I figured maybe he changed his name. I was wrong, of course, though they are about the same age and do look a bit alike.

Anyone else remember The NeverEnding Story?

Barbie Dream House Colorforms

Last weekend, we celebrated my cousin's 20th birthday. While sitting around waiting for some silly basketball game to end, I began talking about memorable birthday gifts. I recalled that some of my most favorite gifts were given to me by their dad. Their dad is also my "God Father." Remember the "A" necklace I once blogged about?

I was turning 7 on November 4, 1979. That was the year Colorforms released the Barbie Dream House. I'm confused because I thought that was the year I received my "A" necklace -- maybe it was some sort of combination gift from Uncle Tony making them even more memorable? Who knows.

Anyway, if you're a regular FourthGradeNothing.com reader, you may recall me whining about how I had always wanted a Barbie Dream House  but for whatever reason, my folks missed the boat on that gift. Okay, fast forward to the Barbie Dream House Colorforms. 

I was a serious Colorforms fan and die-hard Barbie fan - this shiz was like the best of both worlds. The Barbie Dream House set was incredible. The backdrop was 3-D and consisted of multiple rooms ready to be filled with fashionably funky late '70s  furniture, trinkets, Barbie and Ken figures, clothing and more. I was in heaven!

Poof - dream sequence ruined ... Can you imagine the horror I felt when my cousin (she's in her early 20s) shot me a confused look and asked, "What are Colorforms?" It's times like that you realize your true age. For you younger folks who have never heard of Colorforms, please keep reading! 

Five Fast Colorform Facts

• Colorforms were invented in the 1960s by a creative New York City couple named Harry (a painter and art director) and Patricia Kislevitz. 
• Colorforms consisted of colorful thin, die-cut flexible plastic shapes which would adhere to the shiny laminated cardboard. Pieces could be reapplied and moved around. The downside was that within a few weeks, the sticker-like pieces lost their adhesiveness from being touched with dirty kids' hands.
• Mattel and other brands marketed Colorforms throughout the years -- producing Colorforms for a variety of cartoon characters, movies and toys including Peanuts, Holly Hobbie, Strawberry Shortcake, etc.
• Colorforms came in many shapes and forms - there were games, 3-D cutouts and more. 
• The Colorforms tag line and slogan was "It's More Fun To Play The Colorforms Way" and it really was. Still confused? Think of those window clings people put on their windows around the holidays, it's a very similar concept to Colorforms.

View a vintage Colorforms commercial 

For a complete history lesson and cool Colorforms facts and info, please visit toy inventor and legend, Mel Birnkrant's Colorforms web site at: Melbirnkrant.com/colorforms.