A retro reset, a rebranding of sorts. I truly believe that mentally, i am stuck somewhere between the early 80’s and late 90’s! I have now been blogging for about 9 months and i am loving it! Despite struggles and hardships in my personal life, i view my blogging as a source of intellectual refuge. I love touching people through originality! From “Pac-Man Poetry” to fiction short stories. From professional reviews to “Memory Lane Moments”, i love presenting people the option to escape the reality of the stresses in adulthood. My whole goal is simply to make you feel like a kid again!
In the spirit of creativity, originality, and content delivery i have decided to completely redesign my site! This is for you, my reader! I hope you find it more user-friendly, with content that is meaningful. Use the search bar to shop for retro items and apparel, all discounted! I hope you all continue to pursue your passions purpose on your individual pages! Remember my slogan: Never let life dictate how far you can make it! I hope you all will be blessed beyond measure! More content is on the way so stay tuned!😀👍
Could it be? Could it be that I lost my focus? If only for a fleeting moment did I let life dictate how far that I could make it? First and foremost, let me apologize to my audience. Life sometimes sends us all through twists and turns and things happen that we cannot prepare for. There are times when we are flying high in life, then turbulence happens in the process of us trying to coast at 50,000 feet. Allow me to explain.
I have heard it said that the only thing constant in this life is change. I have found out over the past 6 months that this theory is extremely accurate. I came into this year with very high ambitions to be consistent in my writing, to become a professional blogger, and to make a difference in the lives of my readers. As I begin to pour endless amounts of energy into my craft, my laser focus was blurred as 3 major events happened that shook my world consecutively. In March of this year my father passed away, in June I had a health scare that sent me to the hospital, and in July I was laid off from my job.
From July 2nd until September 2018, I went into a sort of hibernation from writing. Life became extremely difficult. As I continued to cope with the emotional issues of losing my dad, along with comforting my mom and family, I couldn’t write. As financial pressures mounted from being without a job for the first time in my life, I was constantly fighting bouts of anxiety and depression. I felt so inadequate as a husband, a father, and provider. Have you ever been there?
In the process of stressing over life, I was not taking proper care of myself and ended up in the hospital. My heart was beating at levels it had never beat before. This was due to a combination of stress, too much caffeine, and an improper diet. I was hard pressed to find a job quickly to minimize the impact of sudden unemployment on my family. I was blessed to find a job quickly, while starting class to gain my insurance license. As life continued to happen, I still hid from my passion of writing and replaced it with the distraction of busyness.
Training for a new career, while in class at the same time is enough to stretch any person’s mental capacity and creativity. Just the thought of writing this past summer scared me. It is amazing how as writers we may feel as if we loose our audience because life temporarily takes us in a different direction. Things are starting to settle back down as several adjustments have been made in my life. These situations build character, integrity, as well as mental and emotional toughness.
After having time to reflect and adjust to this thing we call life, I just want to apologize for my hiatus in writing. I truly love and appreciate you as my reader and I am sorry to neglect you. I am happy to report that one of my blog posts called “Capture The Magic Moments” was chosen to be published in a short stories collection book. I have been blessed, I have been humbled, and I am grateful. Thank you for hanging in there with me through this transition.
In conclusion, I have every intention to regain my consistency in blogging. Please accept my apology and pray for me, and I will pray for you. Never be afraid to fly high in this life, just remember that a little turbulence is normal as conditions change. My tagline as Vintage Retroman is “Never let life dictate how far you can make it.” If we’re honest, life can be challenging at times. Do your best to hang on in turbulence, because it’s short lived. “And this too shall pass” – V.R.
Inside my deepest thoughts, there are complexities that I cannot explain. Inside my
deepest fears, I am nothing special. My name is Samus Aran, now a bounty hunter who separated from the Galactic Federation Police, yet I still have ties to the organization. It’s been years since I rescued that little girl who was about to be destroyed by space pirates in part 2 of my story. As far as that event, I made it out alive but my relationship with some key figures of the police are forever tarnished. The commanding officer Adam Malkovich won’t even speak to me anymore, and we once had a great relationship. In my never ending pursuit to defeat the evil Ridley and Mother Brain, I must be strong as a woman. Still, there are parts of me that I cannot show, because emotion can be taken as weakness. Because of this, I choose to express my feelings in this personal memoir in hopes of not being judged.
Since 1986, I have been regarded as a hero. I wear the title with pride as the first major female protagonist in video game history. Still, under this power suit I am wearing there is a physical person with limitations and weaknesses. Similarly, when you peel back the layers of my heroism there are wounds, scars, and deep questions I long for the answer to. How would my life had been if my parent’s lived? What if the Chozo’s never adopted me? How would my life be different if Ridley never attacked my home planet of K-2L? What ever happened to my little brother Solomon Aran? What type of relationship would have developed? I wonder what life would have been like as a regular kid?
To the readers of this memoir, I was called to be an intergalactic warrior. I just want to now how does it feel to be normal? To those on planet Earth, I have listened to stories about people going to school to learn. I heard that boys escort girls to this thing called a “Prom”. How does that feel? What is it like to fall in love with someone, or go out on a date, or get married? To the career women, how does it feel to wear a business suit and go into an office, making important decisions? Being a bounty hunter is a lonely life, but I do it to one day avenge the evil creatures that created this life for me in the first place. There is one other issue I must address in this memoir.
To my reader, for years people thought it was a man in this power suit. When I was introduced in 1986, people either did not realize who I was, or just didn’t respect me. There are plenty of men in my field of work. I am personal friends with a few characters from the original Nintendo lineup, such as Mario, Link, Lil Mac and Donkey Kong for starters. We even starred in a game together called Super Smash Bros. I have always been friends with those guys and can hang with the “big boys”. Some have even asked if myself and Mega Man are 1st cousins, which that is yet to be determined.
See, that’s me in the middle. 🙂
I respect their platforms and they respect mine. But when it comes to leaving a legacy for women in our craft, just remember that I paved the way for future women in gaming such as Laura Croft from Tomb Raider, Jill Valentine from Resident Evil, or Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII, among many others. I say this not to brag, but to make you understand that women in this field have made a tremendous impact on millions of fans around the world in gaming. My story is just one, but it is the first and I want to make it known that through all of my struggles I am proud to be the woman I am. I hope that this entry to my memoir serves you all well. Of course I am out in the field fighting space pirates as we speak, but Vintage Retroman please feel free to share this entry with your readers, in case if I don’t make it back. Thank you V.R. for believing in me and recognizing that I was destined for greatness. Signing off,
Yes, it is time for a new fun V.R. retroquiz my friends! Here are the rules: Based off of the picture, guess the name of the video game character(s) from the 80’s/90’s! It will start easy, but trust me it will get more challenging as you go along. Here we go!
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Bonus to make up for the one you missed😀**
We’ll guys how many names did you guess correctly? Answers are below. Post your results in the comment section! I hope that this made you feel like a kid again! Signing off for now.
(Federation Police roll call) Samus Aran! Samus Aran! Are you here? Do you copy?
(Samus hesitates, thinking to herself) “Uggh, I am so sick and tired of these meetings.” She then whispers to her squadmates Kreatz and Mauk, “Don’t you guys ever get tired of these long drawn out meetings by chief?” They respond with with a low yet resounding “yes”.
(Samus speaks to Federation Police Chief Hardy aggressively) Present! I am here Chief! Present! Present! Present!
(Police Chief Hardy) Ok, perfect. The roll call is done, everyone is present! Now to get down to business. Today ladies and gentlemen, we embark on a journey that will go down in the history books as one of the greatest undertakings that the Federation Police has ever spearheaded. This assignment is one that will no doubt take courage, and test your will as a department. As you look on our intergalactic map, you see here that the human occupied planet Jigrad has recently been under attack by those same evil Space Pirates that attacked K-2l in the past.
(Chief Hardy continues) Our leadership suspects that Ridley is behind all of this. They have enslaved the inhabitants of that planet, making this a very dangerous situation. Because of the advanced skill and abilities of those space pirates, I have decided to forgo a full frontal assault initially. Strategically, our leadership weighed the risk of that and determined that casualties would be at an all time high. As a result of this revelation after much consideration, we have decided to send in our elite “Star-Tracker” division first, lead by Samus Aran.
(Samus) Uggh, chief………….permission to speak?
(Police Chief Hardy) Sure Samus, what’s up?
(Samus) Um, you do realize that it is only myself, Kreatz, and Mauk in that division here don’t you?
(Police Chief Hardy) Hahahahaha, of course I do Samus! That’s why we promoted you. Look at it from this perspective, who is more qualified than Ms. Aran to take out Ridley? We have upgraded your new power suit, you will have a full arsenal of weapons, and everything you need to handle this special stealth mission. Think about it Samus, think about the glory! Think about you going down in history as the woman to save this planet! Think of all those people you will free. Think about your name in lights! Samus! Samus! Samus!
(Samus responds) Chief, you always have been a master salesman. Uggh, do I really have a choice in the matter anyway?
(Police Chief Hardy smiles) Nope, that’s why they pay you the big bucks! 🙂
(Samus) Uggh, ok. Come on Kreatz and Mauk. We are heading out……….
**Samus’s ship flies discretely onto planet Jigrad, and while searching through the jungles of destruction they stumble upon a slave child.**
(Samus whispering) Shhhh, do you guys hear that? It sounds like a young girl whimpering.
(Kreatz and Mauk respond) Samus stay on mission, we have no time to rescue a kid. Remember chief’s orders! This is a suicide mission anyway, don’t add even more risk to it Samus! We have to complete our orders before the rest of the Federation Police can invade! Now come on!
(Samus) Look guys, I was a young girl like her once when the Chozo’s rescued me! These pirates will kill her! Come on, where is your heart guys?
(Kreatz and Mauk respond) Samus, if you rescue her, you are on your own. We have orders from chief, and are not getting court-martialed because you are getting a little “soft around the edges” for some kid!
(Samus) Fine! I’ll handle it on my own! I am not going to let an innocent little girl die because of fear! After all, I was once that little girl!
**Samus runs off alone**
(Kreatz and Mauk look off as she goes alone) Why is she so stubborn all of the time? She brings these bad things upon herself!
(Samus approaches the little girl and whispers) Hey there, what’s your name?
**The little girl answers**
Damara……….
(Samus) Okay Damara, we are going to get you out of here. Come on….
**Samus hears a siren as she runs with the girl and a loud voice over an intercom**
Intruder!! You’re surrounded!!! PUT YOUR HANDS UP!!!!
From retro themed poetry to moments scrolling down memory lane, I truly love what I do as a writer. When I started http://www.vintageretroman.com, I began a journey of self realization and creativity through writing. I am aware that I do not think or operate like many people. I enjoy everything from Christian Hip-Hop to Pac-Man. I like to wear masks and costumes. I am entertained by everything from Nascar to Marching Bands. Most importantly I love the vintage and retro cultures of the past.
I never would have thought that 100 people would actually see my vision. For many years I did not showcase my writing ability because I simply thought that it was not good enough. I purposefully try to surround myself with other bloggers who are much better than me. It keeps me humble, and I learn so much from them. As I continue on my mission to provide the best content possible for the masses, I want to take a quick moment to hit the pause button and say thank you.
To my 100 followers on my blog, and almost 1000 followers on Instagram, I genuinely appreciate your support. I have been through so many things this year that were negative, but my blogging community has been a true blessing in my life. When I lost my father in March, you have been there. When I was in the hospital 2 weeks ago, you encouraged me. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for understanding me. I may not be the best at many talents, but rest assure with me you will always get sincerity and authenticity. It is how I live my life and how I will continue on.
Me with my youngest daughter, 2018
Thank you for every like, every kind word, and every thought and prayer. You are appreciated. Please remember, my only goal is to make you feel like a kid again. Operate with passion. Structure your heart with love for others. Remember not to take life too seriously. Lastly, never let life dictate how far you can make it! On to 200 followers! 🙂
It is amazing how growing up, some stories have a lasting impact on your life. They are stories of courage, perseverance, overcoming nearly impossible odds. Stories of how unlikely people can grow to become something great! Since I was a kid, one of my favorite stories was actually the story of Samus Aran from the hit Nintendo (NES) game and series, Metriod! Samus was the original “Gamer Girl”. In 1986, she became the first major female protagonist in video game history! Her story and her legacy still continues today and she has become a well respected character in not just video game history, but all art forms. Because of this, I have decided to capture her story from a different perspective for my readers. Below is part one of my new series entitled “Samus- Destined For Greatness”. Enjoy!!!
(Scene is an exploding planet and destruction everywhere)
(Samus hears a whispering voice) Samus wake up, Samus wake up! We are under attack!/
Pirates are raiding K-2L, and the planet is ramshackled/
I’m from the Chozo species, and you have been chosen/
We must leave at great pace, before this planet’s explosion/
I know you’re young, you will not understand what is going on/
Don’t cry baby girl, I know you probably feel so alone/
You have no idea that you are destined for such greatness/
As we approach the planet Zebes you will find what await us/
Experimentation, and infusion of our DNA/
As you grow and become stronger you will learn the right way/
We know it’s tough being an orphan and we can’t speak on your parent’s/
We understand that this planet, compared to your last, there is a large variance/
Samus, look at me and dry those tears from your eyes/
My name is Old Bird, a Chozo elder and your ally/
I promise, we’ll get to the bottom of these diabolical acts/
As we record these events in a series of triological facts/
** And so the Samus child grew, the only survivor from K-2L/
She was only 3 years old at the time of the evil Ridley’s prevail/
He and his pirates are responsible for her parent’s demise/
Little did they know from their actions, a future warrior would arise/**
Ok vintage retro fans out there, time for another retroquiz! Let’s test your soul music knowledge and see if you can name that singer/group!
They convinced the whole world that “ain’t no woman like the one they’ve got!”
They pose the question, “Could it be we’re falling in love, with you baby?”
This soul singer compared his woman to a “starship”, which happened to be the name of one of his biggest hit singles.
If you are looking for “sunshine on a cloudy day” this group feels this about their girl.
This soul singer stated that “Love and Happiness” will make you do wrong or do right.
This soulful duo asked “Sara” to smile.
This particular group asked the question “Have you seen her?”
According to this group, “La la la means, I love you.”
In the 1970’s, this legendary singer made us all question “What’s going on?”
According to this singer’s perspective, things are finally going his way “For once in his life.”
This group was so excited about their ladies, they couldn’t help but sing “Betcha by golly wow! You’re the one that we’ve been waiting for, forever!”
“What you won’t do for love?” That is the thought provoking question that this soul singer probed his audience with.
She expressed her secret crush via song by stating, “If you only knew, how much i do, do love you.”
She stated that she only wanted one thing from her significant other, which is “RESPECT”
This soul singer did not feel respected in his home. Therefore he made the classic hit, “If you think you’re lonely now” to express that men feel used sometimes as well.
Well folks, that’s all for this quiz! Don’t forget to post your comments in the comment section below, as well as see the answers. Until the next quiz my friends, God bless!😊
Answers: 1) Four Tops 2) Spinners 3) Norman Connors 4) The Temptations 5) Al Green 6) Hall and Oates 7) The Chi-lites 8) The Delfonics 9) Marvin Gaye 10) Stevie Wonder 11) The Stylistics 12) Bobby Caldwell 13) Patti Labelle 14) Aretha Franklin 15) Bobby Womack
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