Still Gaming at 33

Thirty three years ago today, I was born in a hospital parking lot of Cleveland, Ohio. Yeah, I was so anxious to get out in the world and do my thing that I had no time to wait until until mom and dad could make inside the hospital. 

As we grow up and get older, there are things that we outgrow. There's an old saying that goes something like, there comes a time where a boy must put away his toys and become a man. There are plenty of things that I have outgrown. I now see He-Man for the craptastic cartoon that it is and I don't really play with toys anymore unless it's with my nieces and nephew, although I do collect certain toys for display purposes. One thing that has stayed with me well into adulthood is my love for gaming. 

For my 9th birthday, my dad got
me Super Mario Bros. 3, quite possibly
my all-time favorite Super Mario game.

I may not spend as many hours as I used to playing video games due to the responsibilities that come with being an adult, but I'm just as passionate about gaming now as I was when I was a kid. My adoration for this hobby actually baffles quite a few people and on occasion, I take ridicule for loving gaming as much as I do. I'm actually baffled that they are baffled. Really, my passion for gaming is no different than the movie buff with a wide selection of films or the sports fanatics that rave on about the last game. Yet, to those that still don't get it, one playing video games at my age seems unthinkable, even childish. Gaming, while a different medium, still appeals to people of all ages, just like books, movies and sports. Personally, I don't find it strange at all for anyone, whether they be 6 or 60 to be gaming.

Video games are a great means of escape for me. They always have been especially now, but even as a child, they always provided me an unparalleled sense of excitement and wonder. I liken them to books because they always take my mind someplace else. Sometimes said places are more rooted in reality, other times these digital locals are more fantasy based. When I was a kid, I thought saving the world had to be the coolest thing a person could do. Gaming was the perfect way for me to live that dream and I have since done it more times than I can count. Although sometimes, I don't feel like getting the planet out of jeopardy, waking up the sleeping princess or overthrowing evil overlords. Sometimes, I just wanna floor it down the road at breakneck speeds or see how long my space ship can last against an onslaught of alien invaders. Just as there are various types of books, there are a plethora of different games to suit whatever mood I'm feeling. 

33 years old. I suppose to some people, that age mighty seem ancient. True, I'm not a kid anymore. I haven't been one for quite some time. However, I do have an abundance of life left in me. I have no idea what a 33 year old is supposed to act or feel like so I'm just gonna do what I've always done, just be myself and keep on gaming. I'm very thankful that I've lived this long, not just to play so many great games but to have a family that loves me and to have made so many great friends. As interesting as I find gaming, my life is so much more interesting because of the people I have in it. I don't think any of them will ever know how much I truly value their very existence in my life, even the ones that are miles and miles away. 

Well, I've taken far longer than I should have writing this thing and I've gone into super mushy territory. I'm happy I made it to 33 and I'm eternally grateful for awesome family and friends and for another day. Now if you'll excuse me, my hobby that I love so much is calling me.