I’m in a pickle. Well, something like that. Remember when you were a kid and your Easter basket was filled with a decent size chocolate bunny, some jelly beans, Peeps and maybe a few toy trinkets such as a YoYo or jump rope?

Well that’s what I can recall finding in my childhood Easter baskets. Then when we had our son, we found that just putting seasonal treats and small items was not the norm any longer. There were Hot Wheels and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that were expected to arrive via the Easter Bunny.

As the boy grew, so did the Easter baskets. Maybe a new basketball was on the wish list along with the latest video game. At some point, Easter baskets were more like Christmas stockings on steroids.

Now 40 years later, we are contending with young children and Easter baskets. While our grandkids haven’t really asked for anything, we soon learned the latest craze in collectible toys is nearly impossible to find. I’m talking about something known as Squishies.

They are small and large soft, squeezable toys in various shapes. They can range from animal heads to a banana, strawberry and yes, even a large pickle. I have since learned that one of the most sought-after Squishy is in the shape of a large stick of butter.

Now as someone who has lived long enough to endure the Strawberry Shortcake, Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch Doll crazes, I’m not surprised that the Squishies are now taking the lead in the must-have toy market.

The people who produced this latest craze are beyond brilliant. From the few Squishies I have encountered, I see nothing but colorful rubber-like toys that could not cost nearly as much to manufacture as the prices people are willing to pay.

I understand people are calling stores and begging for inside information as to know what days Squishies would be delivered and placed on store shelves. When I inquired at a local store about Squishies, I was greeted with laughter. The clerk told me they can’t keep them on the shelves. She said these toys are among the most shoplifted items in the store.

Now that’s just the saddest thing I have heard lately. And to think, I was once happy with a light-up YoYo.

Have a happy and blessed Easter.

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.