Hey, I’m Dave — ImJustDave71. The 71 is my birth year, which makes me certified, card-carrying Generation X.
Born and raised in Detroit. Raised, specifically, by the streets of the neighborhood: I left the house in the morning, drank from garden hoses, rode my bike until the streetlights came on, and my parents had no idea where I was — and nobody thought that was strange. I survived the way-back seat, leaded gasoline fumes, and gym class. I’m basically unkillable.
This site is where I write about all of it — the Saturday morning cartoons, the mixtapes, the video store on a Friday night, the arcade tokens, dying of dysentery in computer class. If you grew up feral in the 70s and 80s, you’re home. If you didn’t, stick around — I’ll explain everything your parents were too tired to.
By day I’ve got a regular job like everybody else. By night I’m here and on TikTok (same name, @imjustdave71), where about 15,000 of you apparently also can’t sleep and miss renting movies. The dream — and I’m not shy about it — is to make this the full-time gig someday.
Off the clock, I’m a husband, a dad, a Detroit Lions fan (keep me in your thoughts), and a connoisseur of fine dive bars — the kind with a jukebox, a patio, and no dress code whatsoever.
Pull up a chair. The comments are the best part — tell me what you remember.
— Dave