In the summer of 1998, I did something New And Different. I got a job working at the UAHC Joseph Eisner Camp Institute for Living Judaism. Or, as most called it, Eisner. I had attended this camp in 1992 and 1993, and I fell in love with it. My tenure there was not nearly as lengthy as most of my friends (many of whom had gone since they were 6 or 20), but I felt a part of it anyhow.
I was made a counselor in the unit called OLIM, comprised of 14, 15, maybe a couple 16-year-olds. The oldest unit in camp, one of the more challenging units in camp, the unit I joined when I first attended 6 years before. I watched with interest as veteran campers fell into their accustomed circles and cliques, and as the new ones found their places. One thing I noticed about Eisner as a new camper was how everyone was pretty accepting, welcoming. When I first arrived, I was nervous, scared, and yes, shy. YES, I WAS SHY. I walked down to the Chadar Ochel to grab something to eat, and I was swarmed by kids who wanted to know all about me. I was flabbergasted, I was shocked... and I was thrilled.
Remembering that experience, I watched this new generation that was under my watch. Bit by bit, they found themselves, and I started to notice something. It took a couple of meals, but I realized something: all the outcasts, the weirdos, the unconventionals... they flocked to me. They sat in the exact same places at meals, the exact same order, location, everything, at every meal. But they came to ME.
We can feel our own. We gravitate. Nerds, geeks, freaks, weirdos... we're all kin. And you better know what you're getting into if you get involved with us. Like I said, WE'RE WEIRD. It's like part of us will never grow up, never let go of that fantasy part of our lives. I'm 37 and I still look at the Star Wars and GI Joe figures. I still think Nerf guns are cool and I still want to own my own Lightsaber (I had one but had to sell it years ago. Boohoo.)
Do you want to know a secret? Sometimes, when I'm home alone, I take my toy guns and pretend I'm fighting off zombies. Or aliens. I have imaginary conversations with compatriots about the upcoming battle. Hell, I've even had dreams where I'm an integral part of one of my favorite TV shows. I love t-shirts. If I see one that I feel is unique or rare, I'll grab it up. And I wear them, PROUDLY. I don't read comics as much as I used to, but I love comic book movies. I love my sci-fi. I love my fantasy, my movies, my TV shows... I love going to conventions with others of my kind.
And I love spreading it. I actually get a kick out of when my girlfriend gives me that look like "There's something WRONG with you." I know she loves it, too. She must, she's still with me. Still haven't convinced her to see the new Star Trek movies, though. I'm working on that.
I believe I'm unique among nerdles. I'm a partial crossover: I wrestled, played football, and did track and field in high school. I was never particularly good in any of them, but I did it. In eighth grade, I was invited to parties. Then, in college, something strange happened.
ACCEPTANCE.
It was starting over, a total clean slate. People met and accepted who and what I was from the get go. Even better, I met a bunch of freaks just as oddball as myself. Once again, birds of a feather flocking together. People say money goes to money, weird goes to weird. Need more proof? Go to a convention. Any convention. Star Trek, Star Wars, horror movie, sci fi, ComicCon… nerds, freaks, and geeks, all of us.
So, this begs a question: much like sanity, if one knows they are strange, are they truly strange? We just “normal” based on societal standards, which are constantly in flux. Think about it: less than 30 years ago, tattoos and piercings were considered edgy and controversial. Now, a large percentage of people have at least one tattoo and/or piercing. Nerdliness used to be something to be scoffed at, bullied for, ostracized for. Now, nerdles are praised and accepted. Hell even some of the “hot” girls are wearing “I HEART NERDS” and “TALK NERDY TO ME” t-shirts. It’s gotten to the point where the “cool” kids are calling THEMSELVES nerds in order to raise their status.
When the hell did THAT happen? I remember being laughed at because I would lock myself in my room and fiddle on my typewriter rather than play sports. I was reading books and watching movies rather than collecting sports cards and flirting with girls. That came later. We nerds had our own society, our own sections of places, our own table in the cafeteria. It wasn’t until right around high school (and even then, not really) that our value was recognized. I had a classmate offer to pay me $25 to do his Creative Writing Assignment for him. The hardest part was making it not sound like me. That guy got an A on that assignment.
So… Hi, my name is Aaron. I’m 37 ½ years old, and I recently purchased a skully with plastic horns sticking out of it. I bought steampunk goggles and a respirator because I thought they were cool. I watch cartoons and I love going to see animated films. I play MARCO POLO in public places, especially stores. I act silly and disturbingly in public. AND I ENJOY IT. Yeah, I’m a weirdo, I always have been, so you better deal with it.
