DMS 010: You know you have problems…
You know you have problems right”?
I look quietly at my slender Gaiking only glass toy display case with my peripheral vision, smile, and begin to understand why this phrase is so commonly shared among my exes. But…but, I have not really looked for another GA-51 seriously in almost 2 years.
I thought I had the “habit” under control.
Section 1 go.
I justified the longing for these toys through a personal story relating to how my mom bought me a Nessar from the Children’s Hospital gift shop when I was extremely ill in 1979. The toy was unboxed, and obviously a second-hand item from Mr. Big’s Toyland, which only added to the magic it had over me. I later became a huge fan of Fridays on Channel 56, as many of the Boston locals would well understand. Force Five, was a godsend for us East Coasters.
Eventually, I gathered enough money to buy my first Space Dragon Ga-52 at age 9, years later, during the golden era of Mr. Big’s. Waltham seemed so far away. Sadly, hours later, Little space dragon was crushed under foot, the victim of a grandparent, who while not wearing their glasses, caused its early demise. This solidified my desire to find the toy again one day AND keep it safe.
Section 2 go.
I collected robots off and on for years, throughout middle-school, Junior High, and High school (being lucky enough to see the closing day sales of Mr. Big’s Toyland is still a memory I throw into the mix, to the sighs of envious friends) while going through various stages of interests, and eventually sold off 3 full collections. Until everything changed the day I found the little Gem GA-51 Shogun Warriors 2-in-1 in a small store in Porter square in 1997. The year I graduated college and returned to Boston from Rhode Island.
The year of Day Old Antiques appeared within walking distance of my usual haunts…and an ATM.
Section 3 GO.
Now, a decade or so later, with a marriage, a new job, and a new location on the other side of the planet I’m left thousands of miles away from my familiar air-tight glass shelved microcosm that sits stoic, stored away from dust and light, filled with the little (or rather expansive) obsession of my childhood. Gaiking was, and still remains, the caretaker of my pathetic otaku soul.
While doing research for a new season of design projects, I let my team take the day off to have a day to themselves. Even stuck safely away from the vintage stores in Kowloon, in a souless and stale aired mall at Harbor City, I find myself “researching” among the Japanese pop music section in HMV, looking at the Animex 1200 anime soundtracks, and humming the opening theme song ever so quietly so as to not draw too much attention .
I am sitting here listening to Track Six as I write this, imagining it is Meiko Kaji singing, microphone in one hand, a Bazolar in the other, cradled with the tenderness only a katana wielding 70’s pop idol could.
“You know you have problems right”?
Yes. Yes I know.
— Josh
