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Time To Pretend (a tribute to Spiderman: Homecoming)

7/7/2017

13 Comments

 
​NOTE: Please press play before reading post. To feel maximum meaning of this post.
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What I'm Wearing: Jacket: ASOS, Hat: FUNKO CAPS, Shirt: Spider-Man Homecoming Disney Store Collection , Flannel: Chaps, Pants: H&M, Shoes: H&M 

​"Time To Pretend (a tribute to Spiderman: Homecoming)" 

​Dear readers, 
I wanted to write you a letter and dedicate a whole page to my favorite superhero, Spiderman. Today one of my now all time favorite films was released, Spiderman: Homecoming. Spidey and Peter Parker have been a huge part of my childhood, my teens, and my adulthood. When I was 6 years old my dad took me to a comic shop every month in a small town called Benicia, here in the Bay Area. That shop closed years ago, but its effect on my life has stayed with me all this time. Spiderman came into my life when I was such a young boy. I remember reading every issue and dreaming of the day that I would see Spidey and The Avengers team up. I had this comic, Avengers issue 314. Spidey helped the Avengers on a mission in space. After I read it I always pictured a film like that happening one day. I was 6 when the original Spiderman starring Tobey Maguire was released. I was enthralled and mesmerized by that film. I was a kid and in my kid mind I always thought the Avengers would pop up. Then as I got older, I learned that at the time it was impossible. Spidey shows up in my life at such pivotal points. He is an important part of this story, because Peter Parker has a piece of him forever living in my heart. I can't wait to share with you my memories from then to now and breakdown the pieces I am wearing in honor of Spiderman being in my life for the past 16 years. 

6, I was 6 years old when the original spiderman was released. I saw it opening day with my godfather and his partner. It was one of my birthday gifts from him. I remember that day perfectly. I get emotional thinking about my upbringing with spiderman because I remember it very clearly. That day was one of the last days as a 6 year old and it was one of the best. That movie, seeing spiderman swing through New York and fighting off the Green Goblin, it expanded my mind to dream more. Seeing on screen what I have been reading on page was everything to me. Peter Parker inspired me to do better and to try harder. His heart and his love for helping people live in me as well.  The following week was my 7th birthday and it was Spiderman themed. My gosh, my mom and dad made that such a big party. Over 150 people, tons of food, tons of gifts, a clown, a spiderman jump house, and so many memories I still hold close to my heart today. I am very fortunate and blessed for the things I was able to have and do when I was a child. My parents made sure me, my sister, my uncle, and my cousins (my brothers)  who they raised had a childhood worth looking back on. I'm 22 and that day is still so fresh in my mind. In tribute to that day, I am wearing a Midtown school of science and technology shirt from the new Spiderman: Homecoming collection at the Disney Store. I'm pretty sure my mom bought me every spiderman shirt growing up and I continue that trend as an adult. I legit have so many spidey tees and this midtown shirt is the perfect nod to the school that Pete attends in the comics and films. I love the way this shirt fits me. Usually I'm very picky with t-shirts cause I don't want it looking so baggy. As you can see I had a hefty stage as a kid, but didn't we all?... lol. I love the simple design with the school logo and I think Disney Store did the perfect job with their mini collection. I'm sure if I was 7 I would have rocked the shirt then as well. Jump forward 10 years. 17, I was 17 years old when The Amazing Spiderman, the reboot starring Andrew Garfield was released. My grandma had past a year prior and my family had to go to Washington state to attend her life celebration rosary. It is custom for Chamorros (people from guam) to have 1 year anniversaries and celebration of life for people they have lost the year prior. My little cousin who lives in Washington had been begging me to take him to see the new reboot of Spidey. So on opening day July 3, 2012, we went to the only theatre in my grandmas small town and we watched it together. It felt like some sort of full circle thing because he was 10 and I was 17 so it felt like I was in the shoes of my godfather who took me to see the original spiderman 10 years earlier. This was the year I moved to LA. After I saw this film my drive and desire to go out and change the world just grew larger. I had just graduated high school early and released my first album, "Time Is All I Have" and seeing a new Peter Parker saving lives, falling in love, and doing amazing things really inspired me to go live my life. So with the help of Pete's drive, I left the life I knew and moved into my own apartment at 17 years old in Los Angeles, CA. That brings us to the denim jacket. I had this favorite denim jacket I wore all the time in LA. It's LA, denim is like a staple there, lol. When I came back to the Bay Area for work, the jacket got way worn out and I retired it.  So it took me awhile to find a good denim jacket that I can adore. I love this jacket from ASOS so much, but it needed a spider touch. So I added on some pins from the Spiderman collection and a patch from the Marvel Collector Corps collection. It gave an already awesome jacket the touch of spiderman that it needed. I love settle details, and these details were awesome for this jacket. Back to the timeline, flash forward 2 years to May 2014. 2014 seems to be the year when my past life blew up in my face. But pieces of that life carried on over to my new life. In 2014 I opened up mrdombaza.com, I released my 2nd record "Let The Music Be Your Guide", I got dropped from the people I was working with on that record, I got a severe cataract in my right eye, and then obviously I was diagnosed with Glaucoma not long after Amazing Spiderman 2 and my 19th birthday. When Amazing Spiderman 2 was released I was still reeling from my first eye surgery. My eye was sort of stable, but it was getting to the point where the Glaucoma would take over the following month in June 2014. Spidey was there to give me some sort of comfort knowing that my world was already changing so drastically.  My family took me to a private screening of The Amazing Spiderman 2 to ease my mind and keep me distracted from what was going on in my life. Let The Music Be Your Guide was being released at the end of the month and it was all a little to much for me to be juggling. The shoes, the red shoes from H&M. I purchased those that year. They were for one of my earlier outfits on mrdombaza.com. I never really wore them after that year. I guess when everything came crashing in my life I let it be and didn't want anything to do with it. Peter Parker has to own up and face things he does not want to face sometimes. But in order to save the world and make an impact, you must own up to it's struggles and heartaches. "With great power comes great responsibility". The red shoes are a reminder of that disastrous year. The shoes you wear make a statement because they are apart of your superhero costume you wear walking forward to move on and change the world. Your weakest moments make you stronger, and if anything out of all the lessons Peter Parker has thought me and all of us, it's that right there. 

22, I am 22 when Spiderman: Homecoming is being released today July 7th, 2017. It's been 16 years since the original Spiderman was released. I feel like my life goes in circles. It may be new locations sometimes, but one circle completes and then another one begins, just like a story, that's life. In the past 24 hours I have seen Spiderman:Homecoming twice. I saw it last night and was mesmerized and enthralled just like my 6 year old self back in 2001. But that's just my personal experience, my second screening is the one I will always remember. My nephew is 6. He loves everything his Uncle DD loves. I feel right now that my story with spidey has come to another complete circle. I was 6 when I saw the first spiderman, knowing that my nephew is the same age is so special to me. I took him along with my whole family to see it at the same theater I saw the original Spiderman 16 years ago. As the opening Marvel credits began and that iconic spiderman theme played, I looked down and saw that same mesmerization I had when I was 6 and through my dark glasses that shield and protects my Glaucoma, I dried the few tears I shed from my eyes as my story expands in that moment and as a new story began in my boys eyes. 
Thank you for going down memory lane with me and celebrating the legacy of my favorite superhero. Somewhere in the timeline of my life a 7 year old Dom Baza is smiling brightly knowing that Spidey and Peter Parker finally made it home where they belong, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 
Today was one of those "Mr. Blueskies" ​kind of days. It will forever be a special memory to me. 
Happy Release Day, Spiderman: Homecoming. May you inspire kids like my nephews to grow up and become something greater, as you always have inspired me. 
​Love, Dom 

​Photographer: Dom Baza & Joanna Wheeler​ 
PAGE 14
Stories From My Life - Chapter 2
13 Comments
Jennifer Lee Quattrucci link
7/7/2017 05:30:04 pm

My Dear Brother Dom,
Wow. It's amazing that we can be 22 years apart in age and have so much in common.
My first memories of Spider-Man are with the first movie, with Toby McGuire and my husband took me to the theater. I think I was 28. Of course I knew about Spider Man because of the Electric Company and just from being alive but I didn't know the story and the meaning behind everything. I wanted to because Jim subscribes to the monthly comic book and I was fascinated that a comic character could be so intriguing to an adult. I was hooked once I knew the story and the phrase "with power comes responsibility' and that sticks with me as kind of a life motto. I have to use my 'power' of being a teacher and mom the best way I can. I've been blessed with these roles and need to live up to them literally for the sake of the children.
Dom, brother , this is so heartfelt and touching and from the song -to every component of the outfit to your reminiscing about your godfather and grandmother -thank you!! Thank you so much for this beautiful post.
Love always,
Jenny

Reply
Tonee
7/7/2017 08:38:53 pm

Hey Bro
I was excited when they introduced the new Spider-Man in the last avengers film and heard they were going to make a new spidey movie. I will make it over the next week or two to go see it. It looks to be better than the previous movies and the new young Peter Parker (actor) played very well in the avengers movie giving great anticipation of this movie. I will be thinking of you when I watch it. Awesome video up there as well bro great editing.


Love Tonee

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Lisa-Jane link
7/9/2017 02:40:42 am

This post is so personal but with such beautiful memories. I love how the story starts with little 6 year okd Dom, evolves for both you and Spidey in so many ways to take you to 22 now, but that it can also somehow begin again with your nephew. That's the true test of a Superhero - can they span a generation? And Spiderman really has. Thanks for sharing with us, LJ xx

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Ramet Idrizi link
7/9/2017 03:30:22 am

First of all, love the outft bro, im so happy to be back on your blog and enjoy your post.
I love how you combined the outfit, you're such inspiration.
Also such amazing story about supeheros, i love it!!

Thank you very much brother.

Looking forward to come back again soon.

Greetings,

Reply
Kamen Kamenov link
7/9/2017 04:37:04 am

Hey my best man or shall I say SPIDER BOY 😁. The fashion is on point. The writing exceptional and your blogpost a delight to read. My first encounter with spider man were actually the comics. Since then I realised I love a tragic superhero. Do not Crusify me... I am nowadays more of a Batman fan, but Spiderman was really the beginning of my love with Marvel.
Lots of love to u
Xoxo

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kallie link
7/9/2017 04:26:18 pm

I so remember when the original movie cane out. I'm not even into the comic stories and I loved it. I love how you took your nephew to see the current release to share those same experiences you once did. Such a great post.

Reply
Gea
7/10/2017 12:05:42 am

Fabulous look babe! Congrats!

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Kirsten Wendlandt link
7/10/2017 08:15:56 am

Oh gosh I absolutely loved this post Dom. It's so wonderful reading about how much Spiderman means to you and how much significance he has had through your life. I think its just amazing that this love for Spiderman has continued through adulthood, don't ever give up on that childhood love of yours! The last picture of you when you were 7 holding your Spiderman doll just made my heart sing, you look so adorable. Beautiful post Dom, I feel the more I read your posts the more I get to know who you really and truly are.

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Bernice link
7/10/2017 09:52:10 pm

So many beautiful red pieces, for a great outfit! Those spiderman socks make my inner child scream with excitement! I love that you were so open in this piece, and its great knowing that during your recovery you had this character to inspire you xx

https://www.bunnybernice.com/single-post/2017/07/11/INIKA-Organics-Bridesmaids-Haul-and-Review

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Candace link
7/11/2017 08:39:00 am

You have such a great childhood story about Spiderman. I grew u with cousins who felt exact same way about him and his character, so your story sounds very familiar to me. Though you loved him so much back then, one could never get too old for Spiderman. I love the way you incorporated him into this outfit...genius!

http://www.thebeautybeau.com

Reply
Valeria
7/12/2017 01:14:40 am

Dear Dom, first of all let me tell you that the pictures of little Dom melted my heart! It's incredible how a fantasy character has been part of your life since you were so little, and I love that your parents and family supported your interest for this Super Hero in every possible way. I would love to do the same with my daughter, but there are so many characters trending from one day to the other that she doesn't get attached to one in particular. Your outfit is brilliant! I'm not an expert to judge the SpiderMan references, but it's clear that you are on it and your sense of style did the rest. I enjoyed the happy memories you conjured up with this post! Much love, Valeria

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Debbie Savage link
7/15/2017 01:52:51 pm

I love what you are wearing DOM! The cool and casual vibe is a winner! You look amazing in everything! Thank you for taking us back to your childhood. My heart is even more connected to you.
xo Debbie | www.tothineownstylebetrue.com

Reply
Thomas Falkenstedt link
7/15/2017 09:11:18 pm

Dear brother Dom,
How I have longed to read this post of yours ever since you announced it on Instagram and I knew it would be special as you and Spiderman have a connection and I truly wanted to know why. It is a beautiful walk down memory lane you provide us with and I can truly identify myself with it, although not with Spiderman itself, but other things. For me that thing (being a bit older than you) has been the fight between good and evil in Star Wars as well as Lord of the Rings and the excitement building up to each release of the movies, seeing the trailers and wiping my tears out of my eyes out of both excitement, joy and sometimes sadness is indescribable. When reality gets harsh, it is easy to escape into fantasy. I often do that. Sometimes however, movies can also make us realize to not escape, but rather to cherish every moment. Just like 'The Fault in our Stars' does. It is an epic masterpiece and if you wanna cry, watch it. I think you could identify with the movie as well and I'm quite sure it would help you get perspective on things.
As for your fanboy outfit, you're totally rocking it and I bet you've rocked the Spidey merchandise all your life. You'll from now on be my own little Dom Parker with a magical ability to make people smile and feel good.
Love,
Tommy

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