HOMEWARD BOUND! (Suzanne Forster)

As you read this, I’m making my way back to my Southern California and my home in Newport Beach. It’s a short flight, just a little over two hours, but trust me, I’ll be traveling all day by the time I get myself packed, make the trip to the airport, go through security and then repeat most of that routine at my destination.

I’m taking an airport shuttle this time. Should be interesting since I’ve been up in the Pacific Northwest a month and have accumulated more junk than one person should be allowed to by law. I actually shipped some of it back UPS. Nevertheless, I’ll still have two big suitcases and a rolling office (carry on) to negotiate, so I’m hoping the shuttle driver is a gallant guy (or gal), who’s willing to help. I’m prepared with bribes of free books and a fat tip!

Normally the family shuttles me up there, but it’s an incredibly long round-trip for my kids who live almost an hour south of me, so I decided to save them some time and lots of gas. Also, I was surprised at how reasonable a one-way ticket was. The drive will be extra long though because we’ll be picking up passengers along the way. Please think good thoughts that the shuttle driver doesn’t get lost this time.

I’ve mentioned in prior blogs that this trip has been an amazing learning experience, but what I learned last weekend is that I DON’T want to play World of War Craft. For the uninitiated, that’s the video game my kids are hooked on. And I don’t just mean my grandkids. I’m talking about my son and his wife. As soon as I saw their living room, I knew something was wrong. Their over-sized flat screen TV is missing. The shades were drawn, the room dark, and the living room sectional was set up with computers on trays, three of them, fancy keyboards and mice, and space age head phone sets.

I can’t describe the game to you beyond saying that you should expect to sign away your life just to learn it. Complicated? Getting an engineering degree at MIT would be easier—and probably necessary. My kids tried to bring me up to speed, even the grand kids were there, interpreting. Of course, World of War Craft has its own language. I couldn’t even keep the names of the characters straight. For some reason, my son has given all his women characters men’s names and vice versa. I got no explanation when I asked why, but he did tell me that he’d also given each of his characters a middle name. Sue, in honor of me.

I tried to pretend I was thrilled to have Billie Sue the red-eyed, Robocop-like Amazon in the breast plate and magical cape named after me, as well as the flying creature she rides on—an elephant I believe, named Ellie-Sue (what else?). I’m sure I wasn’t very convincing, but I don’t think anyone noticed. They couldn’t take their eyes off the computer screen!

Can anyone out there explain this all-consuming obsession with a video game? I love my kids. I would even ride a flying elephant for them, but right now the mother in me is thinking Intervention with a capital I.

So, okay, it was a fun, but challenging time in Olympia. One thing I can say, I’m leaving the condo in far better shape than I found it. I was up at 2 a.m. doing laundry last night. The next visitors here will be my brother and sister-in-law. They’re coming in September, and they actually asked me to leave them a list of things that need to be fixed while they’re here. Bless their hearts, that’s the kind of houseguest you pray for!

Suz, no worse for the wear and just maybe a little bit wiser…