The POP-EXPOSE ‘The Trip or The Destination’ by Train!
Story Courtesy of Serpentorslair Contributor Train! Join in the discussion after the JUMP!
Do you like the trip or the destination?
This day in age we can have pretty much anything at the tips of our fingers. Whether it be action figures, clothes, food, pretty much everything can be bought on line these days. I have always enjoyed the journey as much and sometimes more then the destination. Finding a figure, relaxing on the beach, or enjoying a venison sandwich, the trip to the end and the people I have met along the way have always been the joy of reaching the destination.
In 1997 I graduated from a small SUNY school up near the Canadian border. I went back to my hometown wondering what to do with my life. After a 5 month split from my girlfriend, I decided to pack up my 1985 Mercury Markey station wagon. I loaded in my clothes, a trunk with some person papers and items from school and college, a beautiful cream and orange love seat(Well not so beautiful), shoved it all in my car and drove 200 miles southwest to the city to be with my girlfriend. 3 years later we got married and the rest is history. I remember that trip from a town that had no stop lights and a population of 500 or so, going to a city with no job, $200.00 I borrowed from a friend, the car that I really borrowed from my dad, and looking forward to a new life. I had a small apartment and got a job at a convenience store as a cashier. I bounced around jobs for a few years and landed a job in 1999 and I have been there ever since. I still have no idea where I’m going but a take in every step on the way and appreciate being able to get out of bed in the morning.
Somewhere around 2004 I started collecting action figures. Joes, Star Wars, Disney’s Cars, Lord of the Rings, and a bunch others. Many days I would hit up 5+ stores hunting for such lines. I was always excited when I found an awesome figure and most of the time disappointed if I found nothing. One thing I have done over the years in my hunts for figures is I’ve made some friends, and met many interesting people with some great stories of there own, both with figure hunting as well as other things that had happened in their life. Just recently I found a guy with some vintage Joe stuff that he had bought for his son back in the 80’s and many of the pieces have a story behind them, some great memory of his father son bond that was created by GI Joe. Some off the figures and vehicles bring me back 30 years and remind me of friends back in grade school, playing with my brothers, and hopefully someday will create great memories for my own kids.
So for me it wasn’t the kill that was the best part over the years. It was the journey that created many stories of highs and lows. There is Mike who lost his job and sold his Corvette and opened his own comic book store, or Johnny who played hokey his whole life and never made it in the pros but he is a pretty good kid. Whether its a trip to Target to find Airtight or a trip to Palm Beach to soak in some rays, take note because some of the greatest memories I have, were created on the way there.
