A Long Time Ago…
Just over 20 years ago during Christmas 2004, I was born. Well, not me, but AmericanTK. A knock came to the door, and I was greeted by a UPS Driver with a large brown package. I mean a LARGE package.
A few months prior, my parents had asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I answered, never expecting that they would take it seriously. “I want a Stormtrooper uniform.” Later, I sent them the information of some guy in California who makes the armor. I think it sold for something like $600 back then. I really didn’t expect I’d actually get it. But maybe there’s something with these hokey religions.
It wasn’t until I brought the box inside and opened it that I realized what had just happened because there spread out on the living room floor were all these white pieces of armor. In that moment I was transported back to 1978. My mind racing then to memories of playing with my Kenner Action Figures. While everyone gravitated towards playing with Luke or Han, I would have my Stormtrooper. I called him “Stormy”. Yeah, I know, original.
Stormy was a spy. His superpower was recon. He’d infiltrate the Imperials, collect the plans and leave without suspicion. Upon rejoining the team at the hidden Rebel base, Stormy would hand over the plans to Artoo and Threepio to give to Luke, Leia & Han who would plan a countermeasure. Stormy was always the real hero behind my imagination.
Now, I was able to get behind the armor and become a hero, but in real life! I may have let out a couple “PEW! PEW!” sounds while I gathered all the pieces and put them back into the box. That’s when I saw this thick instruction book. Wait, I had to trim, paint, glue and construct the suit? I was a little intimidated because my parents had just paid all this money. What if I screwed it up? How would I explain never wearing it? So, it sat for a few days while I mustered up the courage to start assembling. I went slower than an astromech climbing a flight of stairs. I’d do a couple steps and put it aside until I felt confident enough to “Move along.”
About two weeks later it was fully completed, and a shiny white pair of boots had arrived ready to start the transformation. I started putting on the black undersuit. The smile on my face expressed the childlike giddiness of some nerdy achievement having been unlocked. I started putting it on piece by piece until everything was in place. I felt like how it was when I was a Senior in high school wearing our mascot costume. (Go Wildcats!) There was this surge of confidence, anonymity and freedom pulsing through my body. I was now the living embodiment of my childhood imagination. I was Stormy. But I needed a new name. You can call me… TK. AmericanTK!
