I have a massive collection of Toys (most of them are still in the packages, I don't play with them! I'm not a total freak), comics and videogames. Most of my tshirts have superheroes or cult films on them, and I hold my jeans up with a belt adorned by a Super Mario World 'Mushroom'. I don't have much in the way of 'grown-up' clothing. And I can not physically walk passed a comic/toy shop without getting excited and going in, and most visits end with me leaving with something new.
Growing up
It might have been my up-bringing that made me into a bit of a man-child, looking back I don't think it was the most stable. In a way, maybe I went into my own world populated by the Thundercats and the X-Men to escape. That might be thinking too deeply and I was probably just a little nerd, but the thing that made that little nerd stick around was definitely the following...
My mum and dad split up when I was a kid (I'm not gonna get all emo in your face, don't worry), and I lost all of my childhood possessions. I was getting to an age where I told myself they didn't matter anymore, I was in the top year of primary school, with my teens just around the corner, so they didn't matter (they did). And be honest, you might have all those childhood things in a box up in the attic, but you've still got them. And when you have a look through them you get a warm feeling, right? Anyway, I thought I was too old for toys and games and I moved on, I thought being 'grown-up' meant; I didn't play with toys anymore, I started shaving, and I wore cheap deodorant. Later (late teens) I became nostalgic about my childhood, and all the things that I'd lost from that time. So, I started 'collecting' stuff, then ebay came into my life and nostalgia was in full-force, I could actually buy back my childhood!
Now my missus and partner in crime is also a bit of a nerd, most women would have probably made me get rid of such childish ways (and failed), but she kinda embraced the geek, she buys things for the nerd dungeon, our geek-central (bedroom). And we had Mr and Mrs Pacman on our wedding cake, which she made! We also smashed the Locust Horde together (three times)! Videogame fans will understand. And despite all this, turning 30 somehow feels like...like it's embarrassing to be 30 and do these things! Should I sell all my toys and pretend to be a mature adult?
I can't help being excited about the next Mass Effect game, or Batman movie! That will never change, but should I start dressing like a 'grown-up'? How much longer can I rock the Star Wars tees and Mario belt? I guess things like this cross the minds of everyone turning 30; "Am I too old to continue this band that's not going anywhere?", "Am I too old to eat Coco pops?", "Should I really care if the new Avengers film is good or not?" or "Am I too old to pretend to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex?" (never!). I guess I'm just gonna have to grow old disgracefully and get mocked by all of you 'grown-ups'...
Hey you, out there! Yeah you! You are never too old to pretend to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex! Live the dream.
Neat post! An enjoyable read. I can relate to some of the points in many ways, as I went through the phase of getting rid of my geeky stuff, though in my case it was because of leaving for university. Up until that point I'd been a heavy gamer, playing D&D and Warhammer etc. When I left for university I kind of left all of that behind and eventually got rid of most of my collection of nerdy things (something I regret hugely!). While I still remained very geeky, getting excited about super hero movies and so forth, it wasn't until I returned to university for my postgraduate studies and was reintroduced to gaming that I fully embraced my geekyness. Since then I have acquired a fiancée who is more than happy to let me bring back stuff from the comic store and revel in my love of all things geek.
ReplyDeleteAs for the question of "will I ever become a normal grown-up", the real question you should be asking is "do I really want to be normal like everyone else"? I, for one, would have to decline. I love my inner child and I don't think I'll ever tire of being a geek.
Now the real struggle is knowing when to let that child out to run around and when to let the grown up in you do the talking....
Thanks man. I agree!
ReplyDeleteI have thought a few times about getting rid of all of it, that they are just 'possessions'. And I'd probs get a fair bit for all of it, but I know I would regret it massively.
Thanks for reading!
GEEK TILL DEATH!
ReplyDeletegood post!