Nostalgia 101

I love things that I used to love.


My birthday was back in June, and my brother got me the definition of The Gift That Keeps On Giving. I'd wanted this gift for ages, but for some reason I never got around to it. Butts finally came through for me, though. He got me The Essential Calvin and Hobbes. It's 3 separate volumes containing every single Calvin and Hobbes comic strip ever published by Bill Watterson. This comic strip is absolutely genius in every possible way. It appeals to people of all different ages on all different levels. When you are young, CnH is funny for the slapsticky comedy and the fantastical charachters Calvin comes up with. Now that I'm older, I can appreciate the social commentary hidden amidst the childlike wonder that is a kid and his imagination. Also, the humor is timeless, as it's not really tied to any particular period so it can't be dated.

When I was a kid, Calvin and Hobbes was my own personal thesauras. If I didn't know the meaning of a word in a strip, I would look it up so I could use it in a sentence and sound smart like the charachters in the comic. Not only did CnH encourage me to read, but it expanded my vocabulary in ways that no other (fun) book had previously done. CnH is smart, it's funny, and it's timeless, but the most important ingredient is it's heart. Bill Watterson put his life into this work, and it shines through. He's captured the innocence of childhood completely and effortlessly. Everyone can identify with Calvin, because we've all been like him at one point in our lives. I don't think it would be a stretch to say that most people out there wish they could go back to a time when their lives consisted of playing with friends (real or imaginary) and worrying (or not, if you were like me) about tomorrows math quiz. For a mere comic strip, CnH is able to connect with people in a most basic and beautiful way.

For the past hour or so, I've been sitting in my room flipping through the first volume in this wonderful series. For the strips I remember, I have a smile and a chuckle. For those I don't, more often then not I find myself laughing out loud. The happiness that this series brings to me is tinged with melancholy, as I know that I have it all. There never will be any more new strips to bring that joy to my life again. The upside of that is I can share in the wonder someday as I pass these books on to my children, and watch Calvin and Hobbes work their magic on the next generation. These books are one of the greatest gifts I've ever recieved. The least I can do is share the joy.

Cosmic Justice

So the Tampa Bay Rays are going to the world series.

I can't help but feel nostalgic about this, because the 2008 Rays forcibly remind me of the 2005 White Sox. What with their chippy play, and refusal to give in to what was undeniably a more experienced (and defending world champion) Boston Red Sox team, the Rays are something that I can root for. A team that I would NOT root for, however, was the Red Sox. 5 years ago, the BoSox were the darlings of the US, eerily similar to the Rays of this season. Refusing to yield to an overpaid and more experienced team, the Red Sox made history with an improbable comeback.

In an ironic twist, the BoSox and their fans have become what the Yankees were to them in 2004. Overpaid, over hyped, and with a fan base that to the rest of the Universe seems obnoxious and oppressive. Weird how that happens. And now, 4 years later, the Red Sox find themselves in the same position the Yankees were in. Ousted from the playoffs in game 7 of the ALCS by an inexperienced team bound for baseball glory. Here's to hoping that what happened to the Yankees after the 2004 season happens to the BoSox from here on out. Because thanks to ESPN and a bunch of asshole bandwagon fans, I'm friggin' sick of them.

How does this happen? I know that I'm not alone in saying that I was pulling pretty hard for the Red Sox back in 2004. Now I can't stand them. Is it just cosmic justice? Karma? Or is it just embedded in our culture to raise something up until it's better than we are, so then we have to tear it down? This doesn't just apply to sports players and franchises either. We do this to celebrities and politicians alike. I don't get it, but maybe that's just because it's 1:30 in the AM, and I can barely see straight. I'd still like some answers, though.

Next up for me? A RayHawk hairdo.