What are LEGO Dark Ages? If you’re an AFOL, you’ve probably already gone through them. You might not even know it. LEGO Dark Ages are the period of time you set all your LEGO aside in favor of other interests, usually the opposite sex ;-), up until that time you once again find that love of the brick. For many AFOLs, their interest in LEGO is rekindled when they find others like themselves on the internet.
LEGO Dark Ages – Share your story!
I remember exactly when my LEGO Dark Ages began. It was the summer between elementary school and junior high. I realized I was going to meet new friends, and I was becoming more and more aware of girls at the time. I felt like it was time to grow up. I boxed up all my toys; my Star Wars* figures, my Hot Wheels cars, and my LEGO. Deep down, I must have known that I would want these things again at some point. They were carefully packed, meticulously labeled, and lovingly stored away.
That was probably the summer of 1983. I honestly don’t think I even thought about LEGO during those intervening years. It took a very thoughtful gift from a very special person to bring me out of my LEGO Dark Ages.
It was Christmas of 1996. (I think. It may have been 1997 though…) I was given LEGO as a present. It was the Hemlock Stronghold.
I remember looking at the gift-giver funny, and she said, “I think everyone should get a toy for Christmas.” Today, that girl is my wife. 🙂
After that, my re-emergence was slow, but it had begun. I remember browsing the internet and coming across people customizing their LEGO minifigures into Star Wars figures. I began dabbling in this, and that led me to start buying a little set here and there. Once I stared to see the possibilities LEGO held, my LEGO Dark Ages were over!
So my LEGO Dark Ages lasted the better part of 13 years. How long did your’s last? Share your story with us!
*It’s funny. I don’t remember exactly what my last LEGO set I got before entering my LEGO Dark Ages, but I remember the last Star Wars figure I bought. it was the Scout Trooper from Return of the Jedi.
I am an Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL) and an active member of the Michigan LEGO User Group (MichLUG). I have loved LEGO for as long as I can remember. I am currently working on the following models:
– UCS Millenium Falcon
– Emmett’s Apartment Building
– Gringott’s Bank
Mine was 12 years from 18-30. I only got back into it as I was looking for a substitute to keep my hands busy after quitting smoking. However I have since picked up some 30’000 or so bricks and love nothing more than micro scale building. I also find it very good for relieving stress which is just as well….
Awesome. Glad to hear you kicked a bad habit, and replaced it with such an enjoyable one. Can any of your creations be found online?
Not as yet but ill link a couple to the fb page. At the moment im struggling for space to build so not producing too much sadly 🙁 on a positive note its been 8 months since I had a cigarette which after smoking for 15 years im over the moon about 🙂
That’s awesome. Keep it up!
Oh and thank you 🙂
Mine was ~21 years.
I stopped receiving Lego and stopped playing with Lego around or not long after my 12th birthday. So 8th grade.
Now that I’m 33, my fiancee started to buy me the Lego CMFs as a “gag gift” but it got me into buying small sets again.
Even found a nice haul at a yard sale and been poking around.
I’d visit Lego stores more often but at 40+ miles/hour drive away, it’s not worth it to do it more than every few months.
Awesome! Another wife with only herself to blame for sparking an obsession! 😉 I have gotten lucky at garage sales, too, but they are few and far between. My LEGO store is about 15 miles away. A blessing AND a curse. o.0
Well, I am still too young. I passed a little Dark Age between my 12s and 14s. But now, having almost 18 years old, I don´t see any Dark Age coming too me. I am in the peak of my hobby. 🙂
I had no idea you were that young. Good for you, sticking with the hobby you love! Always stay young at heart.
I will 🙂
Love you story! It sounds like you’ve got one awesome wife!
I never went through the dark ages because I never had any Lego as a kid. I had 2older brothers and they never had any either. I’m guessing we could never afford them but I don’t recall ever asking my parents to buy me any. When I was a kid, I played with dolls and climbed trees. My husband on the other hand was still building when he was in college. When I met him, he was 25 and in his dark ages which was only a year or so and I always laughed when we talked about him still “playing” with Lego in college. We got married about 5 years later and I saw his Lego sets and was fascinated with Lego but didn’t really get excited until about 5 years later when I went to a birthday party and they were giving away the collectible minifigs. I got the hula dancer and maraca man. And my excitement and purchasing of more Lego got menus and out of the dark ages.
Thanks! Glad you liked it. And yeah, I do think she’s pretty awesome.
I liked your story as well. Thanks for sharing!