[ad_1]
Troy Nelson and his youthful brother Andrew had been virtually inseparable.
The 2 youngest of six, they had been born two years aside. They lived collectively of their childhood residence in Bremerton, Wash., for greater than half a century. Close to their residence, there’s a park bench on which they carved their initials as younger boys.
The Nelson brothers by no means married or had youngsters. They labored collectively on the identical senior residence. They even as soon as, as youngsters, dated the identical woman on the identical time whereas working totally different shifts on the identical pizza store. This lasted every week till they realized it.
“Two components of 1 physique,” Evan Browne, their older sister, mentioned of their relationship in an interview.
On Feb. 28, Andrew Nelson, who had been handled for most cancers for years, went to feed the chickens and geese that had been items from Ms. Browne to her brothers. He had a coronary heart assault and died. He was 55. Simply hours later, Troy Nelson, who was stricken with grief, took his personal life. He was 57.
“He had talked about it earlier than,” Browne, 66, mentioned, tearfully. “He mentioned, ‘Hey, if Andrew goes, I’m out of right here. I’m testing.’ Andrew would say the identical factor, after which it actually occurred.”
What Troy Nelson left behind has grow to be a sensation. After his demise, relations posted photos on social media of his huge — and, actually, the key phrase is huge — assortment of “Star Trek” memorabilia, which have now been shared hundreds of instances.
The objects took up two dwelling rooms and a bed room, all lined with bookshelves, based on Elena Hamel, one of many brothers’ nieces. The facilities of the rooms had been lined with further bookshelves — all packed to the brim — to create aisles. There have been jewellery cupboards serving as show circumstances.
The cabinets contained motion figures. Dolls. Fashions of ships. Posters. Ornaments. Lunchboxes. Legos. A number of toy phasers and tricorders. (For non-Trek followers, the phaser is a weapon, and a tricorder is, basically, a flowery smartphone.) A number of “Star Trek” lamps. (Sure, there are “Star Trek” lamps.) Buying and selling playing cards. Comedian books. Trek-themed Geeki Tikis (stylized tiki mugs). Life-size cutouts of well-known characters. A life-size captain’s chair.
Whereas it’s inconceivable to account for each non-public collector on this planet, Troy Nelson’s assortment is nearly assuredly among the many largest — if not the biggest.
The final additions to the gathering got here within the ultimate weeks of his life: Stuffed rabbits in “Star Trek” uniforms. “I’ve by no means seen a group that dimension,” mentioned Russ Haslage, the president of the Worldwide Federation of Trekkers, a “Star Trek”-themed nonprofit that Haslage based with Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the franchise.
Haslage’s group opened in 2020 a “Star Trek” museum in Sandusky, Ohio, that has acquired donations of memorabilia from estates. These collections “pale compared” to Mr. Nelson’s, he mentioned. (Haslage has reached out to the household to ask about donations from the gathering.)
The older brother’s love of “Star Trek” started with the unique collection, which he’d watch together with his siblings.
“It was our dinner meal,” Ms. Browne mentioned. “After we had dinner, we had been sitting in entrance of ‘Star Trek.’”
Troy Nelson started amassing within the late-Seventies. His first acquisition was a mannequin model of the Starship Enterprise. Then got here Star Trek conventions. Why the franchise was such a draw to him stays a thriller to his household.
“I actually can’t say. I imply, apart from the truth that he was brainwashed with it at supper time,” Browne mentioned, laughing. “That sounds ridiculous. After we grew up, it’s like, ‘Dinner is at the moment. And for those who don’t get right here at the moment, you don’t get dinner.’ So it’d’ve been a consolation for him.”
Troy Nelson would usually monitor websites like eBay for objects he didn’t have. On a number of events, he would categorical frustration on dropping out on an merchandise earlier than with the ability to bid on it. Till he came upon the explanation.
“Andrew already bought it for him,” Ms. Browne recalled.
Obsessive “Star Trek” fandom has lengthy grow to be an indelible half of popular culture, particularly because the franchise — which has spawned a number of tv collection, motion pictures, novels and comics — has been a long-running establishment. There have been documentaries which have studied the topic, equivalent to “Trekkies” in 1997. It’s been lampooned on “The Simpsons,” “Saturday Night time Dwell” and “Household Man,” and grow to be a narrative line in an episode of “The West Wing,” amongst many others. For devoted followers, accruing collectibles isn’t unusual.
“While you gather this stuff, you’re nearer to that style that you simply get pleasure from a lot,” Haslage mentioned. “Once I first began in 1979, I used to be grabbing every part I may get my fingers on as a result of it was cool, and it was a chunk of the entire ‘Star Trek’ mythos. When you’ve got these items, you’re part of that universe in a roundabout way.”
It seems that amassing is a pursuit that runs within the household.
Andrew Nelson collected mall swords, Ryobi-branded instruments and statues of warrior girls, like Xena, the warrior princess.
Browne’s home has a wall with hundreds of smashed pennies and her front room home windows are stuffed with glass sugar and creamer bowls.
Browne’s father, Bud Friends, collected salt and pepper shakers, weapons and knives. Troy and Andrew’s father, Norman Nelson, collected scrap steel and wooden.
Hamel has 17 Christmas bushes, all absolutely adorned with separate themes.
Browne’s son, Michael, who’s 36, collects something and every part associated to black bears.
“When you have got a big assortment like that and it’s displayed like that,” Hamel mentioned, “and it’s one thing that’s necessary to you, it’s usually actually calming to be in an area like that. It’s simply all of the issues that you simply love. It’s soothing.”
So far as Browne knew, Troy had no historical past of psychological sickness or any earlier suicide makes an attempt. After Andrew died, she acquired a distraught and frantic name from Troy with the information. She advised him that she was on her approach.
Ms. Browne mentioned she referred to as him when she bought to the Tacoma Bridge. No reply. After which once more, on the Manette Bridge. No reply. When she reached their residence, the again door was open. After which she discovered him. The cellphone name was the final time they spoke.
Troy Nelson didn’t depart a observe, however did depart some issues meticulously organized by his laptop, together with a key to the home, burial plans for the 2 brothers, and payments.
“I don’t know actually what I believed,” Ms. Browne mentioned. “All I may do was simply scream.”
The Nelson household is boxing up Troy’s “Star Trek” assortment to arrange it for public sale. Andrew’s ashes shall be positioned in an urn carved within the likeness of the supermodel Bettie Web page. (He was a fan.) Troy’s ashes shall be positioned in a “Star Trek” lunchbox.
In case you are having ideas of suicide, name or textual content 988 to succeed in the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/sources for an inventory of further sources.
[ad_2]
Source link