I’ve been a nerd for nearly 40 years.
Well, actually, probably longer than that if you count a
four year old kid loving Spider-Man and Batman as being a nerd. I wouldn't, but that's a reflection for another day.
It might have gone different for me, had a couple of things
happened (or not). I could have outgrown
it like so many othes, gotten more into sports (although I am a sports fan-love
my Chicago
teams and follow them regularly), dirt bikes, cars, partying, getting drunk/high,
high school athletics…the whole deal. To speak plainly, these are socially
accepted norms in America ,
probably a lot of the rest of the world too.
The kinds of things I enjoy, like comic books, video games and so forth,
are considered hobbies one ‘matures out of’ as they get older, seek gainful
employment, establish careers, start families and settle down.
The well worn path of Joe Average was never for me. That is not meant to disparage the millions of people that have done this very thing over the years. They are happy, successful and can provide
for their loved ones. Good on them. It’s just not my path.
And I think I have Star Wars to thank/blame for that.