I've been taking in a lot of Dragonball Z by accident lately.
I made the (mistake?) of buying the Big B the first season on DVD for Christmas this year. He got so caught up in this darn cartoon series that he immediately had to buy the next season, and the next, and today, when he was threatened with the looming end of season three, he came home with season four.
He seriously loves this series. He's a passionate guy and when he really really likes something, he doesn't do so in a half-assed way--at all. He is more refined in his tastes and doesn't like a whole lot of things, but what he does choose, he loves wholeheartedly. I'm pretty much the opposite--I like a lot of things but not with as much depth. A few things, like reading, are complete obsessions, but I have plenty of somewhats lying around.
Mix proximity and the collision of B's love for a subject and speech, and you tend to pick up a few things about said subject, whether you want to or not. Sort of like a sleeping tape. You're being talked at in the background, and you think you're tuning it out, but then one day you know some esoteric football thing and you've got B floored.
But the more Dragonball Z that's going on in the background, the more strangely drawn in I am. I don't know if it's B's passion transferring itself or that the show is that good. I'm not a huge fan of anime so far. I'll be the first to admit, I really haven't seen enough to have an opinion. Watching Sailor Moon, Akira, and Pokemon does not an expert make. By any means, mine included.
But in watching this crazy anime cartoon and with B as my unwitting tutor, I learned a few things. It struck me that life is like Dragonball Z.
The obstacles in life are tenacious and can be incongruously named and disguised. (A nut-scented enemy named Piccolo? Frieza--high-pitched voice, delicate features and plum lipstick with matching fingernails is actually a dude? I had him pegged as villianess for sure. I was so disappointed.)
At times it can feel like you're in constant battle, getting pummeled at every turn. (Battles lasting several episodes, which doesn't include the time before Goku went super saiyan?)
Sometimes your worst enemies can end up being allies against a greater foe. (First Piccolo and then Vegeta become Goku's friend? What can you say? That tailess saiyan has serious charisma.)
You have to give your all to what is important. (Sometimes you need to go super saiyan to get the job done.)
It can seem like you're waiting endlessly at times. (Several episodes centered entirely on guys powering up? Oh yeah.)
You may have to deal with some perverts once in awhile. (Master Roshi anyone?)
Some things you will never understand, but you can choose to make them entertaining. (I became addicted to the end credits song. Don't ask me why. Maybe it's the funny babbling at the very beginning or the fact that while most of the lyrics are sung in some presumably oriental language, a smattering of words here and there sound like they're in English. Even I can't account for my tastes.)
Here it comes a-fighting, an apple-colored monster
Here it comes a-flying, nut-scented alien
They meet and the heart beats faster.
Sparkle, sparkle, the galaxy's a popcorn shower.
Yesterday goes bye, bye, bye (Gohan),
Mystery, (far as the eye can see),
Gather up your energy (substitutes are okay),
Come over here, lai, lai, lai.
Ooh, miracle ZENKAI power!
A hungry, naughty Kinto Un,
A mountain full of horizons.
They meet each other, they come apart.They meet each other, they come apart.Oh, no!
Aah, enough! Even Kami-sama has it rough.
So sorry.
Ooh, full-bellied ZENKAI power!
Come on out, full-on ZENKAI power!
When you love something a lot, the small things can vex the most. (B has no problem with the apparent silliness and youthful of some aspects of the dialogue and plot, but when one dragonball wish plot-hole isn't plugged, it's holy terror.)
And hopefully after the years have gone by you can take a step back from your life and see the big picture, composed of the things you've done, and like what you see. (I think it's neat that once he completes the collection, the DVD box art will create a picture on their spines. Wish some of my favorite book series would do something like this.)
