earl's brain: now and then.

In thinking about the things that I love, meaning interests or hobby-type things, nothing has changed for me in over 35 years.

I'm basically the same person that I was when I was five. I'm a little grayer now, and obviously a bit wiser, but the foundation was properly set at an early age and there's no reason to fix it.

At five years-old, I could be found traipsing the banks of Montauk or Roaring River searching for trout. Arriving at the river before dawn with my grandparents and staying out 'til dusk, figuring out ways to net as many rainbows as possible. I believe by age 11 or 12, I had a personal best of 36 in one day--just ten short of my personal White Castle intake record.

To this day, my favorite activity on earth is exploring a river or lake, catching fish all day long. Always will be.

When I was five, like most kids at that time, I liked superheroes and therefore "collected" comic books. "Collected" is definitely a loose term. I looked at the pictures, cut them up for homemade art projects, spilled Black Cherry Kool-Aid on them, and lost them in a ditch in front of my buddy's house. Not necessarily in that order.

I donned my Superman cape that mom sewed me and jumped off of our well house on a weekly basis. I flew for about 1.5 seconds. I ripped up my pajama bottoms to look like the Hulk's, and busted through the screen door. Turned out not to be a great idea. I would put on my Spider-Man Underoos and scale the door frame between the kitchen and living room.

I don't do any cosplay these days, but I'm still a giant superhero nerd. My comic book collection is impressive, if I do say so myself. I love the colors, the art, the pop culture history, and the feeling of being a 5 year-old with a vibrant imagination. Some folks think I'm incredibly immature because I geek out on these books the way I do. That's okay, I actually like it. It reminds me that things don't have to be so serious all the time. It keeps me young, imaginative, and creative. And although I am a 41 year-old comic book collector and you're not, I'm still cooler than you are.

I mention this quite a bit, and it's been a topic of my ramblings lately. Mainly because the first Spring Training game happens in exactly two weeks. Yes, Cardinals Baseball.

I don't need to explain again how deep Cardinals Baseball runs in my family. Just know that it does, and it will continue to for decades. Now go trade for Hamels, ya dinguses.

Me and my Granny, circa 1979 at Montauk State Park. Trout fishing, Spider-Man shirt-wearing, and Cards Baseball on the radio. Only difference now...Granny's there in spirit and I drink Scotch.

Sure, I've expanded my horizons over the past 35 years or so. I enjoy trying new things, going new places, and the like. My minor interests tend to fluctuate a bit, just like anyone's. But I'm happy that I've gotten to enjoy so many constants in my life that I have.

I hope my daughter, Ruby, is able to find things she loves early in life. Be it swimming, drawing, singing, or whatnot. Right now her main hobby is shitting herself. She gets that from me.