Pet My Rock

I've read several posts today about childhood and the games we played. For some strange reason this reminded me of my step sister and her pet rock. When I was about 4 she introduced me to the world of pet rocks. She had one that she had drawn a face on and named and made it her very own. Being 4 and thinking she was cool because she was a good bit older than me, I had to have one too. My brother and I searched her Grandmother's yard for the best rocks and with help from him, I had a face on one in no time. Once we had our little army of rock creatures, we had to figure out what to do with them. Only one solution seemed logical...Rock Olympics. I don't recall exactly the tasks we put these smiling rocks through. I'm sure there was a long jump or something. Either way we had hours of fun with nothing more than rocks with expressions. Anyway, at the time I thought it was the coolest toy ever made. Do you think kids now would put down their IPods and portable DVD players to pick up a silly rock and draw a face on it? I enjoy technology as much as the next guy and at this point in my life it really helps me day to day, but I'm just glad that I grew up in a not so advanced time. I only wish kids today were encouraged to use their imagination as much as we were. Instead they're handed their thoughts to them via computers, video games, television and who knows what else. No wonder kids are so screwed up these days.