Lefty Limbo

One of the most impressionable photographs for me in the ’70s (aside from the infamous Farrah Fawcett poster) was this huge fold-out centerfold spread of the USS Enterprise in an old 1964 issue of National Geographic. My dad had a ton of those old yellow-jacketed magazines laying around, and it was only a matter of time before I discovered that particular one.

And boy, was it a discovery indeed. I would spend hours just daydreaming over that picture; imagining myself on the flight deck, walking amidst and touching those fighter jets, or wondering how jacked it would be to fall off that deck into the sea. Needless to say, it definitely had an influence on the subject of my drawings for quite some time—especially Einstein’s formula for kinetic energy, the very first, if not the only, mathematical equation my little mind took interest in.

The date courtesy of my dad, whom I’m 1000% sure was by my side (I was about to turn 6 yrs. old) dictating to me the month, day and year. He was totally insistent on me dating and signing every single piece of art I created. I remember rolling my eyes constantly and begrudgingly doing so when I was a kid, but now I’m happy to find treasures like this that mark a very specific instance in my wonder years.

One of the most unusual, yet extremely precious finds in the clutter of my childhood is this unopened Revell model kit of a Javelin SST.

Not that I even know what a Javelin is, but what makes it valuable is the memory of my dad collecting model kits by the dozens when I was a tiny li’l shrimp (3–5 yrs. old). I vividly remember sitting in the shopping cart while my dad wiped store shelves clean of model kits and HO scale trains that were on clearance, piling all these curious cardboard boxes on top of me while I looked on.

Back in the early to mid-’70s, the department stores we frequented most on the Westside were Fedco, Zodys, and Two Guys. I think Two Guys was my dad’s favorite though; he recalls a time when they were blowing out AHM and Tyco HO train cars at $.50 a pop. Speaking of which, this model here was only $.79 at Radio Shack of all places.

I wonder how long it took for the artist to paint these illustrations. I would imagine much longer than it takes someone to crank something out these days.

You may be wondering if I’m ever going to put this up on Ebay. Heck no. I have been tempted to open it and even build it, but then I knew for sure I’d regret it if I did. Meanwhile, someone did sell one online for 69 Euros ($93 USD).

Wow, I just noticed the ©1971 notation on the panel above. Did he get this one when I was only 1 year old? I wonder if being exposed to models at such an early age got me into all that stuff and made me the geek I am today. Thanks, Dad.

Of all the cool things I’ve caught on YouTube lately, this short but sweet home video of good ol’ Fedco really brought back some great memories. It was taken in 1984—a little later than my heyday (which was probably more like 1976–1981, when I practically lived in their toy section)—but it still gives a rare glimpse into the heart of one of the most beloved and frequented department stores of my childhood. Since replaced by a Target, Fedco has vanished into the mist, but thanks to this video, Fedco Lives!