“Treasures” From The Past: My Unicorn Collection
by Jenners • 01/13/2012 • Confessions, My Childhood • 41 Comments
My brother inherited our parents’ house after they passed away, and he has been steadily excavating through the piles of stuff they stored in the basement. He recently came across a treasure trove of my stuff and sent it to me. Although he called it “a big box of your crap,” I think a better word might be “a big box of blog fodder.” I’ve been writing a series of posts about these “treasures” from the past. Previous posts featured my homemade Rolodex, my high school wallet, my personal flair, my patch collection and tangible proof of my canoeing career. We’re now going to conclude this series with a glimpse of a very small fraction of my unicorn collection.
When I was in high school (yes … high school), I was crazy into unicorns. I had unicorn everything: calendars, statues, pins, earrings, necklaces, posters, pillows, sheets, t-shirts, ornaments, plaques. If it had a unicorn on it, chances are I owned it. The sheer size of the collection was mind-boggling, and I believe that my parents saved much of it but finally threw the bulk of it out after 30+ years of me assuring them that I was “really over unicorns” and didn’t want them anymore. Still, a fraction of my once mighty collection remains, and now it is back in my possession.
This is probably 1/168th of the full collection
Were you into unicorns when you were younger … or did you just like plain old horses? I was fascinated by these mythical creatures and often imagined myself as the beautiful young virgin with flowing gowns who was able to tame these elusive beings. I spent many hours poring over my unicorn fantasy calendars and books imagining myself in amazing fantasy worlds with my unicorn. Considering that the girls in these pictures were often well-endowed, had long flowing hair and were kind of sexy (yet virginal), I think perhaps I was really channeling my desire to be a little more attractive.
My unicorn and me in my fantasy version. Admittedly, this is a little racier than the pictures I had (but not by much).
Me in the real word. A bit different from my fantasy self, methinks. I just can't imagine a unicorn submitting himself to this dork.
Perhaps sensing that I didn’t quite have the qualities I needed to tame a unicorn, I decided the next best thing might be to BECOME a unicorn.
Look ... the mythical unicorn wearing its mother's pajamas!
This concludes the “Treasures” From the Past series. A big thank you to my brother Chris for the big box of blog fodder. Knowing our parents, I’m sure more treasures await me. Until I get the next box, this series is finished!
Your parents were such lovely people to save these things for you. It is so nice to reconnect to our younger selves and appreciate that we have changed so much but it many ways, stayed the same. I’m sure you would still appreciate a unicorn but maybe not collect so many of them. Enjoy any future boxes you receive. I will wait to hear more posts about them!
It has been a treasure of blog fodder. Love that last picture of you. Jillian would love to hang out with you. She’s into unicorns too!
Oh, I’m so sorry but that last photo of you as a unicorn is too cute
I think it’s just so great that you were so into unicorns that you dressed up as one. You even had quite the pose too! None of that standing there holding a peace sign.
I was really into horses when I was a kid and probably owned every single My Little Pony so that it would fill that empty hole in my heart from not actually having a real horse of my own. I think it was made worse when we moved into a neighborhood where people owned horses. These days, I’m glad I know longer want one because they really smell bad…
Love your collection! And your unicorn costume!
I have a huge star wars collection, and was know to dress up as Darth Vader, and a stormtrooper – still hoping they’ll recruit me!
Sweet ending to some of the funniest, laugh-out-loud writing I’ve ever read. The unicorn costume surprise was over the top. I wish I could been there that day. I’m still pissed they cut that spruce down! I told mom a thousand times that just because a tree leans one way to get more sunlight doesn’t mean it’s going to crush your house someday. Greta is buried a few feet behind where you’re standing. Now there’s a fire place where Mr. Carrot suffered an awkward end. Perhaps the little one was going to make himself a carrot-unicorn and his prop got burned up? I will return to Operation Super Childhood Excavation soon. Are you sure you don’t want that pillow? Perhaps it could be a prize for one of your dear readers? It’s in your room downstairs. Just say the word…
Oh my goodness. You are too awesome. I was never into unicorns and now I’m glad. I would never have had a collection as good as yours!
Oh this is priceless!! And if you are still into unicorns, I have a journal for you!! I found it at a garage sale, it had these amazing pics of unicorns and I bought it for like .25 and I never wrote in it, I still have it!
And I kept thinking about the Unicorn Song by Shel Silverstein.
This was a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing.
I hope your brother does come across some more treasures.
The “unicorn in her mother’s pajamas” is priceless! I agree with many who said that they hope the actual costume appears in yet another box of blog fodder – at which time we will expect an updated photo.
Oh, the dorks we were in our youth!
I’m laughing so hard, I’m crying. Not at you, my dear, but at the fact that I had the exact same unicorn figurine you picture above. I even kept it for years for my future daughter. I eventually got rid of it because she was never going to be into unicorns, and I realized it was just insane to keep packing and unpacking for an (at the time) unborn child.
Thank you so much for the laugh and the nostalgic look back!
The world is a better place because of unicorns!
Love you dressed up as a unicorn.
hahaha that photo is the best treasure of them all!!
I was never into unicorns myself.
I’ve really enjoyed the treasures from the past. And I, too, loved unicorns. Although, anything horses actually. I still have some of my unicorns and the kids are still not allowed to touch them.
I used to try to set carrot traps in the forest behind my house hoping I would catch a horse or *GASP* a unicorn.
Ahh, Mrs. J., you are too funny – I LOVE the costume. I was into elephants when I was a teenager but I never dressed as one. I thought I sort of looked like one without any need for a costume: long nose, fat, big feet, you know. Wish part of my collection would appear in a time capsule…[sigh]
My sister liked unicorns- I just didn’t get into them as much. This series has been so much fun.
And your unicorn costume is awesome and pretty funny
As I shared last week, I too had a passion for unicorns in high school and actually collected several of the same pieces you showcased here (although I must confess that I never ventured to dress as a unicorn!)
I did, however, have the ambitious notion of completing a life-size needle point picture of the Medieval unicorn tapestry – which remains in my closet in its unfinished state.
Although I was never into fantasy and certainly didn’t dress up as a unicorn, my guilty pleasure was and still is historical fiction. It wouldn’t take much encouragement for me to whip up a Mary Todd Lincoln costume (which could probably double as my Louisa May Alcott costume). Today’s National Delurking Day, so I wanted to be sure you knew that I read every post!
(If this double posts, im sorry, wordpress ate my previous comment)
Oh my goodness, this is tooo much
I remember unicorns being popular in the 80′s 
I like the unicorn costume…very creative! (i’m afraid of horses myself)…lol.
I’m so glad you linked all or your older “Treasures” post so I could catch up! Actually in this day and age you are pretty cool. My middle step-daughter would love those buttons, and maybe a few patches. You could make some cash!
Never was a unicorn or horse girl. More of a realist I guess…Knew I’d never have either in my back yard so never got too into them. 
Can’t wait to see what your brother unloads next.
You definitely had a flair for the dramatic! Look at that pose you are striking, with such an attitude. At least unicorn obsession is fairly normal amongst girls. You want to know what I was into? Camels. Seriously. I just shake my head.
Ok, this is rather odd…in a cute way.
You were obviously way cooler than I was! lol I don’t think they had stuff with unicorns in the dark ages when I was in high school.
Lol. You remind me of me when I was young. That aside I have always loved unicorns cause they’re so pretty. You’re lucky your parents kept stuff like this. My mother threw everything out as soon as she could – not the sentimental type at all. I think these kinds of memories are great – I’m going to miss these posts.
Awww, this has been fun! I do hope you get another big box full of memories to share with us.
I have to say that I was in a rather dark phase in high school and it didnt involve unicorns or butterflies. It did involve alcohol, guys with long hair and cigarettes. I think my parents would have prefered the unicorns. Loved this series!
This is too cute! I was never into unicorns, but one of my daughters was.
I love that picture of you as a unicorn. Classic!
I was really into horses mostly, but unicorns as well, in elementary school. I had all these horse statues in my room. Kind of dorky!
I love you as a unicorn! I’m sad these posts are coming to an end, I love these glimpses into your past.
I was soooo into horses. I always included unicorns, too, because of the close association.
I think it’s really sweet to be able to have something like this, part of your past, given back so randomly! What a nice walk down your memory lane this series has been.
This series has been so much fun. And what a finale! You as a unicorn. I’m tempted to print it and frame it!
You made a grand unicorn.
I had some unicorn purses. Ones where they were ironed on (ironed on, ha!)and I had a few headbands, worn over the forehead that were sparkly and had dangly unicorns. I also had some perfume with unicorns on the bottle. It was grape-like, candy-scented and fizzy in some way. Magical.
I still have my unicorn collection on display on the wall behind me. I took my unicorns to college with me. My MagiQuest Wand even has the unicorn horn topper. But I do not actively collect any more (fairies have taken their place). When I was in Scotland, Sterling Castle was undertaking a 10+ year weaving project to recreate the 7 tapestry Unicorn Hunt cycle–your picture shows the most famous of those tapestries (the one in the circle fence) that is also used in Hogwarts Castle in the movies and at Wizarding World. It was absolutely stunning, the artistry and the time it was taking to faithfully reproduce them. The cycle also had greyhounds so I doubly loved it. I think 5 of the 7 were completed at the time we visited and we saw one 3/4 finished. Can you imagine spending 10 years of your life on a project like this?
Unicorns are back in style, didn’t ya know? I know this because my daughter and some of her friends are obsessed with them. She makes clay unicorns all day long, and they are all over the house. I love them! I also loved unicorns when I was young too, and thought they were so noble and magical. I love this collection and think you should totally save it! Great post today, and I loved the unicorn costume!
Ah, you made the sweetest unicorn ever. Never into these mythological creatures (my sister was), I did however go through a fairy phase though its hedgehogs I’ve always loved
You made an awesome unicorn.
Love it. Great costume, too. I remember seeing all sorts of Unicorn stuff around when I was in high school. Was there a well-worn copy of Peter Beagle’s Last Unicorn in the book? I had one of those.
This series was fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
Did they save the unicorn costume??? Because that would be so awesome.
That picture of you as a unicorn is amazing!
Awww…you were the cutest dork ever! I never got into unicorns mostly because my dad didn’t like the fantasy genre at all. But I do sort of remember the sexy/virginal maiden thingie associated with them. Are you at least able to look back at your “real” self an appreciate that you had a really nice, albeit covered up, figure?!? By the way….your mom had some cool jammies!