MS and WoW

World of Warcraft has been fingered as the blame for many real life problems and even some marital issues. Addiction to the game has led many people to lose control over aspects of their life that they would normally be able to handle no problem. These are the most extreme cases, and not the type I will be talking about. Rather, I'd like to speak about the positive influences that WoW has had on my life.

Let's start in the pre-WoW era of my life:

In 2005, while attending Comic Con, I picked up a trial version of the game. Promptly I stuck it in my Comic Con "swag" bag and forgot about it. As the year progressed, I started to realize that I was having some interesting problems with my health. (Details spared) After an MRI in December of 2005, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and the symptoms that led me to believe I was having health issues were in full force. Basically, as I have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, I was in the middle of a major relapse.

Things became very hard for me. Running was no longer an option. Being a huge sports fanatic, I basically lost the ability to do everything I enjoyed...and found myself spiraling downward into what would become (thanks to my now EX wife) a period of my life that I refer to as "The Great Depression" (Original, huh?!)

Enter WoW:

As everyday activities became more and more of a chore for me, and my marriage faltered even further -- I began to desperately seek an escape. In a matter of months my entire life had been turned upside down. My marriage began to decline even faster, I lost the necessary skills to do the things that were so near and dear to me, and I struggled to fight through the acceptance process involved with being diagnosed with a chronic, incurable disease.

What was going to happen to me?
How much more was my life going to change?
Was I going to be able to continue to work?

These questions and many more plagued me for months. In June of 2006, while digging through my "swag" bag (an action prompted by a visit to my aunt's and seeing the game) I found my 10 day WoW trial.

After some time, and a few guilds, I can honestly point to a couple of major benefits that the game has given to me:

1. I can run, jump, duck again. -- No, not physically, but my character can and for someone who used to love to do this kind of stuff, it feels great to be able to have the control to cause myself to do this. (Even if virtually) I don't know how important this is to other people, but this really was a gigantic part of my life pre - MS. It's not like I ran miles for fun -- but if there was anything involving a ball and running around -- I pretty much did it for my main source of fun.

2. I have a "social" life. -- People often argue that talking to people over the computer does not constitute a "social" life because you are not physically near those people. I disagree completely. Whilst in the Army, and dealing with people everyday (some of whom I had great personal relationships with, even though I was highly social, I did not consider my social life to be NEARLY as active and fruitful as it is now. I care a great deal about many of the people I've met on World of Warcraft as more than just the avatars that flit about my screen. Through the game I've managed to form fantastic, meaningful relationships that have been even further solidified by our ability to voice chat with each other over Ventrilo.

These are just a couple of the benefits WoW has given me -- and I walked away and lost my train of thought..........so TTFN!

An Oldie but a Goodie. :)

Eighteen weeks pregnant,
Running to my car,
Stops about halfway,
Because 20 feet's too far.
Glowing like an angel,
Huffing and puffing in her seat,
Bending over to tie her shoe,
Is now an impossible feat.
Not sure just how I got her,
Not sure just what I've done,
Still trying hard to figure,
Why I'm having so much fun.
Sitting back now to enjoy it,
Earned a lover from a friend,
Trying hard to conceal a giggle,
While she starts to eat again.

I don't think that you could dream this,
Couldn't find a feeling more true,
Couldn't breathe in cleaner air,
Couldn't swim a sea more blue,
Couldn't find a brighter star,
Way up high above,
All pale in the comparison,
To the smile of my Love.

Melting just like butter,
As her hands run through my hair,
I'm late now every morning,
But I don't really care,
Stifle another chuckle,
As she's waddling along,
Or hearing what we say,
Then bursting into song.
I'd stop to call her silly,
But she acts alot like me,
And now that she's gunna have my baby,
It's easier to see.

I don't think that you could dream this,
Couldn't find a feeling more true,
Couldn't breathe in cleaner air,
Couldn't swim a sea more blue,
Couldn't find a brighter star,
Way up high above,
All pale in the comparison,
To the smile of my Love.

Shining bright,
On me and you,
My love is great,
It shows right through,
If I try to hide,
You see it still,
I'm not ashamed,
You always will...

I don't think that you could dream this,
Couldn't find a feeling more true,
Couldn't breathe in cleaner air,
Couldn't swim a sea more blue,
Couldn't find a brighter star,
Way up high above,
All pale in the comparison,
To the smile of my Love.