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When I came home today, I was greeted by a decent-sized brown box. When I flipped it over, it was addressed to "Billy Boy, a nickname only one person ever called me and that was about 30 years ago. My excitement exploded when I looked at the return address to see it was indeed from my childhood friend, Nathan. I hadn't talked to Nathan since a few years after college with one exception- I tracked him down in New Jersey to ask if I could rummage through his mother's house outside of Philly. Let me explain.
Some of the older members here might remember the story of what happened to my original WGSH Megos. By sixth grade, they had been sitting, still in their boxes, in my closet for almost two years. Video games and now girls were taking up most of my attention so I came up with the genius plan to sell them for $10 a piece. After all, I had only paid about three bucks each. I'd make a mint! (by sixth grade standards, anyway) So I sold over 20 complete, original boxed heroes to Nathan.
Now Nathan's mother is a hoarder. There were piles of crap all over that house. By the time we graduated high school, I don't think you could even enter a couple of the rooms. Cut to a several years later, Nathan and I have moved away from Philly and lost touch, but I've started collecting Megos and I remember that sale and that cluttered home in the suburbs. Inspired by another member who tracked down some of their original Megos, I track Nathan down and propose I meet him back at his mom's house to "help" clean it out. He does think there's actually a decent chance my Megos are still in his old house, buried in his old room, BUT... he has NO interest in going through all that junk.
Fast Forward to today and that beautiful brown box in front of my door with Nathan's name and return address. I tried to stop myself, but I couldn't help but imagine Nathan had found my original, beautiful Megos, packed them up and sent them to me. I mean what else could it be?!?!? With every tear of the brown wrapping paper, I picture the old boxes. Are they smashed? Beat up? Covered in gunk or possibly still in the stunning condition they were 30+ years ago.
Of course you know that was not the case. No Megos.
Yeah, I was crushed but Nathan still did something pretty darn cool. He knew I was into Snoopy back in the day and had bought all 5 Camp Snoopy drinking glasses McDonalds in 1983. He wrapped them up in McDonald's bags and a few paper placemats and packed them away, thinking he would give them to in a few years. Of course, we drifted apart. He tells me he came upon the box a few times over the years, but couldn't throw them away. This time when he cleaned out his garage, he decided he would track me down and send them my way.
Needless to say, I was disappointed that my old friends were not in the box, but it was still a pretty cool surprise. He bought them 30 years ago and here they were, wrapped in that old packaging. Pretty cool and I connected with an old friend in the process.
And maybe some day, he'll let me make my way through that old house.
Some of the older members here might remember the story of what happened to my original WGSH Megos. By sixth grade, they had been sitting, still in their boxes, in my closet for almost two years. Video games and now girls were taking up most of my attention so I came up with the genius plan to sell them for $10 a piece. After all, I had only paid about three bucks each. I'd make a mint! (by sixth grade standards, anyway) So I sold over 20 complete, original boxed heroes to Nathan.
Now Nathan's mother is a hoarder. There were piles of crap all over that house. By the time we graduated high school, I don't think you could even enter a couple of the rooms. Cut to a several years later, Nathan and I have moved away from Philly and lost touch, but I've started collecting Megos and I remember that sale and that cluttered home in the suburbs. Inspired by another member who tracked down some of their original Megos, I track Nathan down and propose I meet him back at his mom's house to "help" clean it out. He does think there's actually a decent chance my Megos are still in his old house, buried in his old room, BUT... he has NO interest in going through all that junk.
Fast Forward to today and that beautiful brown box in front of my door with Nathan's name and return address. I tried to stop myself, but I couldn't help but imagine Nathan had found my original, beautiful Megos, packed them up and sent them to me. I mean what else could it be?!?!? With every tear of the brown wrapping paper, I picture the old boxes. Are they smashed? Beat up? Covered in gunk or possibly still in the stunning condition they were 30+ years ago.
Of course you know that was not the case. No Megos.
Yeah, I was crushed but Nathan still did something pretty darn cool. He knew I was into Snoopy back in the day and had bought all 5 Camp Snoopy drinking glasses McDonalds in 1983. He wrapped them up in McDonald's bags and a few paper placemats and packed them away, thinking he would give them to in a few years. Of course, we drifted apart. He tells me he came upon the box a few times over the years, but couldn't throw them away. This time when he cleaned out his garage, he decided he would track me down and send them my way.
Needless to say, I was disappointed that my old friends were not in the box, but it was still a pretty cool surprise. He bought them 30 years ago and here they were, wrapped in that old packaging. Pretty cool and I connected with an old friend in the process.
And maybe some day, he'll let me make my way through that old house.
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