GULLIBLE'S BABBLES - 104: Small World, Part 1 - Master of My Own Domain

Gullible
Sep 26, 2020
3 min read

MASTER OF MY OWN DOMAIN:

OK. If you’re a fan of “Seinfeld” ... that’s NOT what we’re talking about here. But yeah, I have to admit, that was a particularly hysterical episode. One of the classics from that television series. Now on to the topic truly at hand ...

SEEN AND NOT HEARD:

As a child (and particularly a child of the 60s and 70s), I was basically a pawn in my parents adult world. I went where they took me, I ate what was put in front of me, I wore the clothes they picked out for me, and if I knew what was good for me, I did what I was told.

Do this, go here, eat that, say this, don’t do that, put this on, clean that up ... on and on and on and on. Largely powerless. Even the most tumultuous of tantrums didn’t move the needle toward getting my way. I was also the youngest of my siblings and thus the low man on the totem pole there as well.

MY LOYAL SUBJECTS:

But there was one place where I reigned supreme — where I was the “master of my own domain.” My bedroom was my fortress and I was the ruler of my toys, my pets and my imagination. That was my kingdom and I ruled it fairly, with love, respect, compassion and unbridled enthusiasm.

I absolutely adored my toys and my pets. They were quite literally my pride and joy. My little dog was my best friend and constant companion and I treated my toys with great reverence — choosing to protect, admire and display them rather than playing with them and putting them in harms way. Toys were like little works of art to me, something to be admired. Little treasures and I truly treasured them.

I'M BORED:

I also grew up in rural middle-America where provided entertainment was nonexistent. If fun was to be had, I was left to my own devices to create it for myself.

At the time, coming up with something to do seemed like a boring and taxing chore. Looking back, it was a gift. I learned to live inside my head, explore my imagination, rely on my creativity and amuse myself with very little outside influences.

THREE BIG HITS IN ONE:

There was one particular item from my childhood that struck all three chords for me loud and clear — that was Sea-Monkeys®.

Sea-Monkeys® were a toy, a pet and a highly combustible fuel for my fertile imagination ... all rolled into one. Sea-Monkeys® had it all. And still do as far as I’m concerned. They remain my instant transport device back to my youth. My own “time machine” if you were. (Eddie: That last comparison was specifically for you.)

So ... toys, pets and my imagination were my childhood “reality”. As a grown man, those same three things are my adult “escape” from reality.

You very well might be thinking, “This man is clearly having a mid-life crisis.” And a sad one at that. Rather than buying a red sports car to tool around town in, he’s buying old Sea-Monkey® kits. I would tend to agree with that if it weren’t for one things — I’ve been in this “crisis” mode my ENTIRE LIFE! And happily so.

Stay tuned for more dribble on this subject. In Small World, Part 2, I’ll babble on more about other “small worlds” that ignite the child’s-mind from days gone by. One of them was even the inspiration for the name of this blog.

Now there’s a pathetic cliffhanger if there ever was one.

I’ll be back with you a “little” later on the subject. (And there's a bad pun.)

Signing off ...

Gullibly yours. — Gullible