Special to The Desert Sun

In my seven decades of semi-consciousness on this planet, I've seen a lot of crazy trends come and go. There were mood rings and Ninja Turtles, Pokemon and Cabbage Patch Kids, tie-dye and all the rest. Fortunately, most have settled into the dust of obscurity, but a few stubbornly hang on.

Among the most resilient would have to be Beanie Babies, a small plush toy of endless variety that drove many a parent crazy and even today has thousands of enthusiasts. It's been more than 30 years since they were introduced and Beanies are still out there, if somewhat less so than before. That kind of staying power is worth a look.

The line was founded in the mid-1980s by an experienced toy man named Ty Warner. The first few characters — among them a frog, a pig and a whale

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