Lunching with Lunatics

Some of you will have read Ray Bradbury's "The Pedestrian" ( http://www.wits.ac.za/holistic/bradbury.htm ).

I read it in my English class when I was 15. When you are a 15 year old boy, English Comprehension is generally a very boring subject, full of short excerpts of tedious classic literature. "The Pedestrian" was none of these, and has stuck in my mind to this day as it has with Clive, my UK dentist and good friend, who attended the same class.

Yesterday, we had lunch with some of Dena's friends who have a little boy the same age as Alexander and a two year old daughter. They used to live in the Bay Area but now live down South. They invited us to a Mexican restaurant in Milpitas, which wasn't the easiest of venues to get to during the time when Alexander is at school. It was a horrible commute and I should know- it is near my office!

Eventually we arrived and sat down to some chips, salsa and guacamole. All was going well until the family's friend Phil showed up. Now Phil played a particular Dungeons and Dragons game and the family's son perked up and started to talk about his experiences playing the same game. I was a little disturbed that a 5 year old would be playing online D&D, but tuned out the conversation. Then Dad chipped in, he too an avid player in this online fantasy. Dena and I focused our conversations on Mom and how she was doing, as the discussions of Orks, Druids, Dragons and Guilds flew over our heads. Then Mom suddenly switched from our conversation to the D&D appreciation discussion. She too was hooked, but only 5 hours a night.

"This company grossed $200 Million last year, so there must be something in it."

"Er, Yeah from folk like you."

"Actually I am saving money. I don't want to go out at night anymore!"

...

I went to the beach today and looked for dolphins. I didn't find any, but that is ok, I know they are there.

If you haven't read "The Pedestrian" you should. The future is in your hands as well as mine...

Balance, balance, balance!