Thursday, June 11, 2009

For Dan...and His Nameless Fellow Dad Pals

Did I mention I was going to the LEAH (Loving Education at Home) Convention in Rochester last weekend?

We did. I say we because all six of us got in the van and drove to Rochester. I got out on the street and walked several blocks to the convention hall. Dan and the kids rode on to the National Museum of Play to spend the day there. Somehow, the convention speakers didn't really strike a chord with Dan.

However, The Museum of Play has an exhibit right now called Videotopia. What's inside? Why just about ALL of the classic 1980s video arcade games!

Dan walked inside along with some other dads- obviously close to the same age. As he walked around he'd say, "Look it's Centipede!" and the guy playing would be like, "I know can you believe it?!" Dads everywhere were in a nirvana state as they played the likes of Missile Command and Star Wars. Defender and Pac Man.

Dan took great joy in introducing our kids to the games of the past. They each got a set of tokens to use in the arcade and ended up scoring more from friends who weren't using theirs. When I arrived after walking over late in the afternoon I played a few terrible games of Frogger. I didn't have an Atari 2600 as a kid. It's ok Mom and Dad...it completely stunted by video gaming skill for life. But that's cool. I can live vicariously through my husband and children.

The exhibit is up until November and Dan keeps raising the number of times we'll be going back between now and then. I heard once more at first. The other day I heard him tell someone twice more. One thing is for sure. We were both immediately transported back to middle school. Wow.

Dan standing in front of the gate to heaven on earth- do you see the light shining upon him?

6 comments:

Your dh said...

If only we lived in Rochester... sigh...

Heidi said...

That is so funny! I can just imagine the conversations that were going on! So it's up until November? Do I tell my husband? Hmmm..... why not!

My Blessings From Above said...

Very cool! I love 80's video games! My dh and I used to play Sinistar at the video arcade where I worked for a brief period of time.

Dana Leeds said...

I was never very good at video games, but I loved to watch my brother play! He still loves games and has quite a few arcade games in his garage! It looks like your dh was having a blast from the past. :-)

Alice said...

I have to admit that if they had Pac-Man (or even better Ms. Pac-Man) I'd have ditched the convention and be right there with your dh.

Heather said...

Ms. Pac-Man was there Alice!