The Frisbee is 50 years old this year. I am 57. The Frisbee, along with the Hula Hoop - both by Wham-O - came out during my toy-joy height.

The Frisbee has staying power. The Hula Hoop does not. The Hula Hoop wiggles through time with an occasional flap, but it's soon in the thrift stores. It's a Fad. The Yo-yo is a Fad. The Frisbee is a higher level toy. Why?

Simple. The Hoop and the Yo are solitary activities. If they're done with friends, they're done as a collection of solitary activities. The Frisbee is anti-solo. It is a social activity, a connection. The Fris requires us to acknowledge others - not mere "need" of them, but our enjoyment and acceptance of them... for who they are... and who they are now.

The Frisbee requires us to become familiar with the Other - our Collaborator in Fun - acknowledge their existence - their position on Earth at this time - and their limitations. To make a connection, you MUST cooperate. You may need to position very close to the young or inexperienced. It is not a bad thing - it merely Is How It Is, and, their progress is assured. You may need to limit the range of the Frisbee toss for your old, weak, or crippled accomplice. You need to cooperate with the weather - the position of the sun, the wind and its direction, rain, temperature, condition of the ground... The Frisbee is not a toy you are expected to get PAST an OPPONENT (like base ball, ping pong, checkers, chess, soccer, foot ball, basket ball, etc., etc.) in order to DEFEAT them. In fact, if you fail to sail the Frisbee to your partner - if it does go past them - it's typical to apologize. Frisbee is a different game.

The Frisbee, in all its variations, links one person to another, and the people to the real world. It is a social tool - a human tool - an emotional tool. I can think of no "Toy" I'd be prouder to have invented. None.