Tossing Salt Presents:
12 (Dougie) Days Of Christmas – Day 6
Soul Train, Comic Book Store & Jingle Bombs
December 15, 2020
DougMaynard.com

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Actually, it’s just cold and wet. I haven’t been able to get into the Christmas spirit at all this year thus far. I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping or decorating or any of that stuff as of yet. Procrastination and panic-shopping. That’s my motto. With all the craziness going on in my personal life as well as the world around us, I just don’t feel it this year. Maybe it’ll be a last-second thing and I’ll wake up one morning all ho-ho-hoey and full of the holiday spirit and cheer. I just re-read that sentence and the image that entered my mind. Oy vey. Even when I’m not trying, the perv in me just comes out. Freaky and I know it. But that’s why you all love me and keep coming back, right? Yeah, we’ll go with that. Let’s get the bag out and do this.

The topics for today, Day 6 of the ever-so-classic 12 (Dougie) Days of Christmas blog series 2020 are Soul Train, the Comic Book Store, and from our Christmas selection, Jingle Bombs. Oh yeah, that should be a good one. Let’s get to stepping and away we go.

Soul Train…

It was the alternate dance show of the ’70s and ’80s, hosted by the original King of Social Distancing, Don Cornelius, and aimed towards, but not limited to the black youth audience. And yes, us nerdy white boys watched it too. It was this or American Bandstand and while Dick Clark and Bandstand was cook, it was Soul Train that was risque, edgy, more animated, and had, dare I say it, soul. The dancers were hot, the moves were hot, the music was excellent, and Don Cornelius was the biggest mack-daddy of them all. He had his extended skinny microphone to keep everyone from getting too close and would use that deep, baritone voice to talk to the people and dancers before introducing the next top hit for everyone to dance to. Just a classic part of Americana history and I’m glad that my generation was able to see it happen every weekend on our television sets. Soul Train did far more to bring the races together than Rev. Al, Jesse Jackson, or any of those race-baiting hate-mongers ever did. And then each week, Don would end the show by wishing everyone some peace, love, and soul. Good stuff to be sure. Let’s move on.

The Comic Book Store…

I love me some comic books. Not as much as I once did sadly enough, but I still like them, read them, study them, and learn from them. Back in the day when I was younger, I was buying comics each week, spending between thirty-forty dollars a week, and loving every second of it. And the place I’d always go was the local comic store, Korner Comics. Tucked away in a small space in what was once a motel, the hidden treasure of Scotland County nerdiness has been in this spot for around thirty-years, give or take. And it’s so cramped and crowded inside, but it’s just an incredible place to be. I went for so long and then I quit. It came down to paying bills or buying my comics and the adult in me won out and I quit cold turkey. I would still read my collections, read online, watch the movies, collect the action figures (they’re not dolls), and even write my own stories with the classic characters (on FanFiction.net under the writer name of TSFiction19). I gave up visiting the store, but remained interested in comics and did everything, but buy new comics. And I’m getting way off track here. My bad.

So about a month or so ago, I went with my bro-son to the comic book store. He’s way into the Walking Dead genre and he’s now a fully-certified comic book nerd. I’m so very proud. But I decided to go with him to the shop and for me, it was like a crackhead walking into the hood. All the old cravings and passion for my comic-book past came rushing back. And Mr. Forde, the owner, remembered me well. And I looked around the cramped up shop, and I knew I was back home. I only bought a few that day, to “catch up” with where my favorite titles have gone and what’s currently happening in the Marvel Comics Universe, but I knew I’d be back. And I’ve been back twice more so far with the Infamous One. I’m keeping a handle on my spending and my obsession isn’t quite as strong as it once was, but it’s a good and comforting feeling. It was the feeling of going home. I want to eventually drive back to Fayetteville, NC one day and check out the comic shops up there, such as Dragon’s Lair, to see how they’ve changed and what they have to offer, but for now, I’ll just stick with the local store. Mr. Forde can be a bit feisty at times to deal with, but it’s all cool. I have comics again. I’m a happy camper.

Jingle Bombs…

And finally, we have the Christmas portion of this post. And all I have to say is that it’s Achmed, the Dead Terrorist and Jeff Dunham. It’s from Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special on Comedy Central. And if you haven’t seen or heard it yet, you’re missing out. So enjoy or else I keel you! And Merry Christmas.

And with that, I’m out of here. I have to go get boxes for the Food Bank and then go work for about five hours stocking and selling liquor. Have a great one, stay safe, watch out for the crazies, and don’t get the Corona Virus. Drink American beer instead. I love ya and I’ll see you tomorrow.

Ubuntu!