June 6, 2025: The Plastic Legend

What made them say “Yes”?

One afternoon as a kid, I saw an infomercial featuring a unique item. I didn’t just want it, I needed it. Badly.

I campaigned hard. And somehow, ranking up there with the great mysteries of the universe, I convinced my parents to fork over their credit card.

The thing cost about ten bucks, with high odds it would end up buried in a pile of toys within a month.

But this gadget survived constant use and never broke.

And that’s why I still have it today, decades later. In fact, this childhood treasure works perfectly and doesn’t need batteries or charging.

It sits on a shelf in my office, ready for action, if necessary. This week I showed a coworker and told her the story.

What is this magical marvel?

The Bakka.

A frisbee with wings. Dubbed “The American Boomerang,” the Bakka debuted in the early 80s.

Spin the disc clockwise into the wind, and the curved blades take over, slicing through the air and circling back like a heat-seeking missile. Chuck it as far as possible, and physics takes over. The breezier, the better.

For years, I brought it to every beach trip. Strangers always watched, jaws open, as the winged wonder looped through the sky and dropped into my waiting hands.

Apparently, the company stopped making them, probably after someone took one to the face. Razor-edged toys and children don’t really mix. But remember, safety wasn’t a top priority in those days. We didn’t wear bike helmets, either.

Yessir, the Bakka still soars like the morning it arrived in the mail. Impulse buys usually land in a thrift bin, but this one keeps flying back.

Thanks, Mom and Dad.