24 Days of Turtle: Day 17 (Cowabunga Carl Ornament)


This holiday season, Santa is coming to the sewers! 24 Days of Turtle is a countdown until Christmas guaranteed to make you merry. From December 1st through 24th, this advent calendar will shell out 24 different TMNT Holiday-themed treats. Each day will offer something new, something ninja.


DAY 17: COWABUNGA CARL ORNAMENT

In 2007, my life was in a state of mutation. College ended, I had a full time job, and was living in a Brooklyn apartment. The transition from college kid to working professional was going smoothly. My work colleagues and I got along like Christmas cookies and milk. But back then, my passion for the Turtles wasn’t on my resume.


Brief hints of TMNT love occasionally surfaced, but my colleagues had no clue how deep into the sewers this devotion went. On Friday, March 23, 2007 everything changed. That morning I slipped on a TMNT t-shirt and proudly wore it to work. Safely tucked in my wallet was a movie ticket to the 4th theatrical film featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.


At work, the clock was frozen and my Turtle-anticipation boiled. I kept getting questions about my TMNT t-shirt. Everyone had an inkling I was a fan, but my wardrobe put them over the edge. I was prepared for jabs and jokes at my expense, but to my surprise, they bought movie tickets!


When the big moment came, I was wearing my TMNT t-shirt in a packed theater with a handful of colleagues. The intern even joined in! Say what you will about the movie, but the experience and comradery were incredible.


This Cowabunga Carl ornament brings me back to that night – an evening with adults, but everyone had the heart of a child. I always assume at each stage of my life, I’ll be forced to outgrow the Turtles – a time when I must say goodbye. But, will that ever happen? From a kid, to my college days, and as a working professional – everyone has supported my crazy, cowabunga ways.
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4 comments:

  1. Nerd Out With MeDecember 17, 2013 at 4:13 PM

    I'm not even a big TMNT fan, but this ornament is awesome. Great story. Must have been a fun time. A rare great moment in a weary world.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 17, 2013 at 8:53 PM

    A jolly nice tale right here! Yeah, you find many surprises in people who you wouldn't think would do something so unexpected. Just the fascinations about life and all. It must've been a really fun time, too, when I first saw that movie, I really just enjoyed sitting and watching it. Felt like a nice TMNT film to finally spring up.

    In some ways, I guess we just can't ever grow up. Doing so removes the fun aspect about us, and it would be wrong to forget about a franchise we love dearly. We just can't give it up, ya know?

    A fun ornament, too! Now that I think about it, I really should rewatch this film sometime around Christmas. My memories are faint, but I do know I loved it a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Sewer DenDecember 17, 2013 at 10:48 PM

      Kids at heart - that's how us Turtle fans roll!

      Someone should have a TMNT film festival. All 4 films and some pizza!

      Delete
    2. UnknownDecember 18, 2013 at 6:19 AM

      They should. I'd be totally down for something like that.

      If someone actually does try and do that, tell me. I would more than gladly attend.

      Delete

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