Born in the 70s.

Saw Jaws and Star Wars at the drive-in. Had an Atari 2600 hooked up to a huge Zenith that looked like it was made of wood. I’d watch The Brady Bunch, Three’s Company, Happy Days, Battlestar Galactica, and Godzilla movies on that TV, too.

Fond memories of playing with my toy dinosaurs and Star Wars figures (many of which I still have) on orange-and-brown shag carpeting.

Grew up in the 80s.

Ah, the Golden Age.

The decade that brought us E.T., Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, Back to the Future, Aliens, Die Hard, and Tim Burton’s Batman.

And at the arcade? Pac-Man. Donkey Kong. The original Mario Bros. Dragon’s Lair. Centipede. Tempest. Q-Bert. Joust. I’d later get the home versions on ColecoVision, the Atari 5200, and the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The 80s also brought us so many ninja movies, I took up martial arts and haven’t looked back.

And speaking of ninjas, the 80s resurrected G.I. Joe as the most awesome line of action figures. Ever. And made two ninjas arguably the most popular characters of the line.

Launched my career in the 90s.

Worked in film and video production overseas for six years. Came back to L.A. to study computer graphics and graphic design.

Kept collecting toys and memorabilia from films such as Jurassic Park and Terminator 2. Even had a model kit of the Titanic. (Would have bought Jack and Rose action figures, had they been available.)

Growing old, but not growing up.

Some guys my age start riding motorcycles. Others jump out of airplanes.

Me? I’m busting my toy collection out of storage and making videos about them.

We all have different expressions of the mid-life crisis.

Welcome to mine.