Take horror punks, for instance. Another punk subgenre, with Glenn Dan - zig as its unofficial president. How much money have they spent at con- ventions, in their lifetimes? Meeting Tony Todd, George A Romero, Doug Bradley, Tom Savini, Sid Haig, and more. It must be in the thousands! Many punks invest heavily in their vinyl record collection, others on VHS and DVDs, and there are so many who found the music we love so dearly by playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on the PlayStation. We kept Manic Panic, Doc Martens, Dickies, and Carhartt in business, which we, as children of the millennium, discovered via our computers. Subconsciously, I knew this about myself – we ALL knew this about our - selves. But Laura was the first person I heard say it aloud. At the time, I had a mohawk, and while I liked the look, I know it was part of me proving that I was “a harbor chick.” I was punk enough. Forgetting the whole time what I had tried to prove to those unsupportive folks from years prior. I wasn’t defining myself as artistic, empathetic, kind, or creative. I was defining my- self by the media I consumed. I didn’t know where the media ended and I began. My apartment wasn’t a museum of my mind, but a museum of pop culture. But you know what? I kinda liked it. Becoming friends with Laura has helped me embrace my true self. If she can love me for me, then I can too. To this day, I decorate my house with
pop culture referenc - es, Green Day artwork and collectibles, books and records and all the things I’ve always loved. Do they define me? No. All those mushy gushy things I mentioned be - fore do. But did they shape me? Hell yeah.
95
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator