Strollin’ Down Memory Lane
MEMOIRS OF CHILDHOOD COLLECTIONS
Story by Many Kuy and Illustrations by Jessica Ronald
Two people shared stories about their collections when they were kids.
FADS CREATED MORE THAN JUST EMPTY WALLETS
I collected Pokémon cards when I was about 12 years old. Now before you judge my interests during my childhood, just remember how impressionable you were when you were young. I didn’t know why I needed them, considering that I didn’t even know how to play the game itself. Kids were crazy for these cards, as if they had some value. I remember buying my first booster pack at the local convenience store near the school. The feeling I had when I opened my first booster pack was indescribable, as if it was an early Christmas. I held it in my hands for a long time, like a rare relic from the depths of the unknown. The next day, I brought them to school to show my friends. I remember all the excitement of trading cards with my friends, asking each other, “What do you want for it?” and “I’ll give you this, or this for it.” Although my collection was small at first, it grew into a big pile of memorable stories and friendships. It’s hard to believe that part of my childhood was based around little pieces of paper with shiny holographic Book4/Images. It helped introduced new friends who shared the same interests. Some of them even ended up graduating high school with me! The feeling of completing my collection was probably one of the biggest accomplishments in my life. It was something to call my own and of course, gave me bragging rights with my friends. Although it took me awhile to complete it, in the end, it was all worth it. Looking back, you could say it was a total waste of money. For a 12 year old kid however, there are some things that are worth every penny.
“It’s hard to believe that part of my childhood was based around little pieces of paper...”
The Chords Of My Collection
My album collection was a huge part of my identity. I remember the first one I ever bought—the debut album from The Presidents of the United States of America. Their music video for the song Peaches convinced me that they were the coolest people out there. My collection consisted of bands I loved at the time. The “bubblegum pop” era was beginning its reign of terror, so I needed something to fight the mainstream. One of my standout albums was the Live at Budokan album from Blur. Collecting albums was my true hobby. The music was random and very unique. It stood out from what everyone else had, and I took pride in that. In the end, no one truly has the greatest album collection. It all lies within the eye of the beholder. When I looked at my collection I said to myself, “This is the greatest collection of music off all time!” Buying albums from the record stores was memorable as well. My mode of transportation was good old Calgary Transit. And every single penny, saved from allowances and birthdays, was spent on music. Hanging out at A & B Sound, finding albums hours upon endless hours—that was the definitive joy for me. It was a period when there was time to enjoy the little pleasures in life. Today it’s not as important. Owning a credit card and downloading songs off the Internet reflects the times of today. I compare it to going to a museum. You can plan the trip, drive there, pay the admission and see it in person, or you can read about it online for free. Buying albums was proof of who I was and still am today: A unique individual in a world full of copycats.
“The “bubble gum pop” era was beginning its reign of terror...”
Special Thanks to Tony Mach and Grant Morozoff