If Pixels Could Talk – #1, Final Fantasy

In second grade, my teacher pulled down a map and began my first geography

lesson. She pointed out China, Russia, Europe, all the greatest hits. I

raised my hand. "Where was The Shire?" I asked. My teacher assumed I was

mocking her in some way – reasonable, I was a bit of an obnoxious kid. But

it was a sincere question. 

I believed Lord of the Rings was real. Yep. My father told me those books

were the ancient history of Earth, and until that moment in second grade, I

had no cause to doubt it. It was a shocking realization. I was living in a

deep fantasy world, always looking around in the fields and wilderness near

my house for clues of Middle Earth. I used to sit under the willow tree

hoping its roots would move like Ol' Man Willow's. When I went camping with

my father, he would let me hike alone among the giant Northern California

trees. There had to be Elves there right? There were not. 

I was sent to the principal. My mother was called. My illusion was rather

forcefully dispelled. My father thought it was funny. The enchanted years

of my young childhood were over. I know it's for the best. As a Science

enthusiast and Skeptic, I understand the truth is more important than

pleasant narratives. But I was just a lad, so let's give me a break. 

This was before I found Star Trek, or Sagan's Cosmos – or sadly, religion.

Those eventually filled my lust for discovering a deeper, more

interconnected world. But this was before that. This was the in the well of

my imagination. Then my teenage neighbor kid wanted to buy a skateboard and

sold me his NES – his loss. The fantasy life was about to return.