I was in the flow of traffic hour (Actually, I detest this terminology
since traffic hour is actually about 2.5 hours long) and I began to
wonder where my absolute love for history came from. I have always had
a passion of sorts for reading science fiction and fantasy. I dig
using my imagination to make the stories that I read come alive in my
head. If left alone long enough I have vivid images of the characters
interacting with each other whether they had two heads or not.

Yet, as a student, learning about dead people from thousands of years
ago didn't quite spark the ol' imagination. Maybe because of the fact
that math, reading and writing was stressed more. Yes even way back
then social studies took the back seat. Maybe it was the fact that I
had a proclivity for reading stuff that had to do with other worlds.
Maybe it was because as a youth I had not real concept of how long
things took let along how long ago things happened. In my world it was
either happening right now or before my time, which was jumbled into
one giant ball with no chronolgy at all.

Either way, I trudged through school not really giving a pig's
backside of the past. It wasn't until a family trip to Florida that
something snapped in my head. We actually had the chance to go to
Disney World and spend some time there. Sure, I was enthralled the the
pirates and ghosts. I even boldly claimed that I would never wash my
right hand again because Pluto gave me "some skin." It was the Hall
of Presidents that shook me out of my indifference. There they were,
all of them sitting and standing in the clothes of their time. Moving,
breathing and some were talking.

I wanted to know about them and find out who they were. I even picked
up the soundtrack in a 12" record and was anticipating listening to
it. Fortunately for me, my parents had a hardback from National
Geographic on the former leaders of our nation. At first I just wanted
to learn their names and even today I can list them, not always in the
correct order.

From there, I learned where they were from and what they did during
their terms. Then my doors opened to events ranging from different
wars to preserving national parks. I read about the Great Depression
and the space program. Each event led to another until I was lost in
history.

You see, to me it's not knowing the dribble or being able to appear
intellegent. It is the fascination I have with stories...

All of this from an amusement ride...

-WTS

It has been a month since one of my heroes passed and I have been very
remiss about blogging about it. After all, this person played an
important role in my life since the age of twelve. I am talking about
a man so important to geeks, dweebs, and nerds internationally that a
group at MIT erected a statue in his memory.

Gary Gygax, or was once E. Gary Gygax, was one of the founders of the
Dungeons and Dragons series. As I have talked about before, this
simple RPG saved me from getting into a ton of trouble growing up. My
fellow adventurers were a huge influence on me especially R, C, and
M. These three great friends were heads and shoulders intellectually
and at times provided me the often needed push to not only keep my
grades going but to stay in school. I was at a point in high school
that I was ready to chuck it all and move on. Especially Rich gave me
the subliminal ass kickings to keep me going.

More than that, when you game with a bunch of brains you have to
create something that they would find to be not only a challenge but
exciting. I found my creative talents increase as I was forced to be
decriptive and precise with every detail.

Funny how things go...

Thanks Gary for creating something that would bring together a most
unlikely group of geeks...

-WTS