Welcome back to another blog hop, with #OpenBook. Here’s this week’s prompt.
They’re making an action figure of you. Describe the toy and accessories. (Do you have a catch phrase? Favorite items, clothes, hair style?)
Now there’s an idea. In a way, it’s a pity that they’ve only just got around to it. Thirty years ago, it would have been a much more exciting prospect. Then I would have been in uniform, tall and slim, with a full head of hair and ready to leap from a moving pilot boat onto a ladder hanging over a ships side.
Now, I’m more likely to be dressed in worn joggers and a tee, squinting through bifocals at a screen, ready to stagger downstairs and get another coffee (provided my knees co-operate).
So rather than action, these days it’s more of an inaction figure!
Not only that, if it were made today, it would certainly not be the sleek version of earlier years. It would need less hair but require a lot more material around the waist.
As you might have discovered, I don’t really take myself that seriously. In fact, a sardonic grin would have to be the default expression.
Favourite items include a coffee mug (or sports bottle filled with water), a notebook and pen, piles of untidiness and a large collection of box sets of classic movies and television series from both the U.K. and the U.S.A.
Now that I’m no longer required to abide by a uniform dress code, I prefer to be attired on the comfortable side of casual, at least while I’m indoors. And my hairstyle can be described as mostly missing.
When I was working, piloting ships up and down the River Thames, through Tower Bridge and the Thames Barrier, or pushing through the mud in Barking Creek, my favourite saying, which I would use to reassure ship’s captains was, “We always do it like this.”
The sincerity that it was said with depended on the seriousness of the situation. In fact, the worse things were getting, the calmer I tried to sound.
The most important question is, should the figure be sold under my pen name or my real name. Certainly, I would prefer a degree of anonymity, that’s the reason I opted to become someone else in the first place.
I believe it’s called plausible denial, I can revert to my proper name and slink back into obscurity at any time, if I feel that the writing gig isn’t going very well.
And, as an optional extra, I would include some pins. I’m sure some of the purchasers would want to stick them in it whilst muttering strange incantations.
You know who you are!
Let me know what you think about this week’s subject.
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I’d love to get your comments, please leave them below. While you’re here, why not take a look around? There are some freebies and lots more content, about me, my writing and everything else that I do. You can join my newsletter for a free novella and more news by clicking this link.
Chris L Adams
Ha! Great post, Richard! I’d certainly enjoy seeing this action figure of your younger, dappier self.
My own probably be at the height of my guitar prowess when I played daily, and — unmarried — was able to read like mad every single day. I was constantly practicing scales and chords, learning new songs, adding books to my library, discovering new music and authors and it was just a great time period of my life. This was in my 18-25 years.
So my own action figure’s “accessories” would be a can of Dr. Pepper (my preference at the time), a bookshelf full of paperbacks, my Fender Katana electric, and a Marshall 50W JCM800 that I used to own. My figure would most likely be wearing a Damage Inc. Metallica t-shirt and jeans or jean shorts, and white Reeboks high tops. My hair would be nearly to my waist, as in the stage photo on my Fender Katana Pinterest board. We played at Glenwood Park that day with five other bands, and laughingly called it Glenwoodstock. That was circa 1994.
https://www.pinterest.com/zlzf33/fender-katana/
Richard Dee
Sounds like a great melange of memories, Chris.
Stevie Turner
Oh, no, Richard, I wouldn’t want to stick pins in your doll! Perhaps your doll can be dressed in its naval uniform, lol.
Richard Dee
Uniform for formal occasions only.
Lela Markham
I just think most writers don’t make that good an action figure. Our activity takes place in our heads, mostly.
Richard Dee
Indeed! A 3D diorama of what was going on in my head, now that might be a seller!!
P.J. MacLayne
Do you miss the days when your uniform caught the eyes of the ladies? 🙂
Richard Dee
I never wore it while on leave. Once I was free from having to wear it, I didn’t want to.
Roberta Eaton Cheadle
A great post, Richard. Very amusing.
Richard Dee
Thank you. 🙂
Debbie Harris
I love the bit about your hair – mostly missing! I enjoyed answering this question in a post today, a bit of light relief 🙂 I like the sound of your action figure, but a no to the pins!
Richard Dee
That’s my sense of humour, you’ll get used to it.
phil huston
I have that same hair. However the Action Figure me would have all that corrected like Shatner, Selleck and Chuck Norris. Hell, Jeff beck. Gimme star rock star hair. You know, guys in their 70s with thick flowing locks. I mean I’m not that old but man, some of those cats got some serious hair.
Se always do it like this. Just stole that one. Your $5 check is in the mail.
Richard Dee
Great to hear from you, Phil. I had long flowing locks in my youth, especially after six months of sea-time. All donations gratefully received. 🙂