My personal connection with M.U.S.C.L.E. goes deeper than that of the definition of a toy collector. I could post pictures of my collection, links to various M.U.S.C.L.E. inspired art I have created, cite trade feedback, community tenure, etc., but none of those aspects would even begin to touch upon how I feel about this specific toyline.
There are many objects that occupy my space; collections of varying degree and tangibility. All of my life I have taken interest in a wide variety of subjects. All of these have left evidence of their existence in my possession, be it through the accumulation of related objects, or the extended insight into said subjects.
Amidst this eclectic array of physical objects' and the interwoven patchwork of thought processes they give rise to, there is one singular concept that has had a profound and lasting effect on me like no other: M.U.S.C.L.E.
My history with M.U.S.C.L.E.s, and my meditations upon them, are long and ongoing.
I was first introduced to M.U.S.C.L.E. in 1985, as a small gift from one young child to another. Immediately they stood out from any other objects I had ever seen; even thought they were small, uniformly colored figures, each sculpt denoted it's own unique personality and character.
Very little prescribed information accompanied these alien beings, and in my young hands these blank slates had a powerful, nearly explosive, impact on my imagination. These figures became the ultimate medium onto which I could project the endless stream of energy constantly pouring out of my brain!
Throughout the remaining years of my childhood, my M.U.S.C.L.E. collection grew, as well as the distinct psychological connections I made with many of the figures themselves. They were a constant presence in all aspects of my life back then, be it a handful of them in my pocket, or the cardboard box of them I dragged around nearly everywhere I went.
Many an instance of my childhood can be recalled by looking over a particular sculpt. Tied to these figures are distinct memories places and people, many of which are no longer among us.
As I grew into adolescence, the process behind a lot of my thought began to mature, a result of which turned my mind to matters which were more, for lack of a better term, spiritual in nature. As these new phases of thought began in my mind, M.U.S.C.L.E. was still a constant presence among my thoughts.
As I began to ponder much of my own existence, both the concepts and fables I had conceived of and connected to these figures took a new line of perspective in my mind. Through the re-examination of many of these ideas, I was able to come to terms with many of the concepts that had alluded me throughout the earlier part of my childhood.
For me, many an insightful inner dialogue was at least sparked, if not irrevocably interwoven, with M.U.S.C.L.E.
Even to this day, after many years of change and varied constancy, M.U.S.C.L.E. is still a focus of my every day life.
I still view them as my favorite medium of imaginative expression, and continually find that my path to inner enlightenment is paved with Matell Keshi.
In conclusion, I would like to post one picture. It is an interior shot of the front center window on the second floor of my home. From outside at night, it glows like a beacon!
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", but for those who will enter, I know that they will truly appreciate holding a piece of M.U.S.C.L.E. history in their hands!
