The day after Thanksgiving is known as the busiest shopping day of the year. The nations houses empty into minivans and Walmarts hoping to score themselves some sweet deals. Well, that's fine for most folks, but it's a very different day in my house.
You see, two years ago (roughly) I met the woman who is now my wife. Rather than have to remember another actual date, we settled that the day after Thanksgiving was as good as any to celebrate our anniversary. After all, we started dating two years ago on the day after Thanksgiving, so it seemed only natural to celebrate it on that same schedule every year.
What does this have to do with gaming? Well, up to this point, very little, but bear with me. I didn't know from the outset that my future wife was a gamer. There were hints at it here and there, Pokemon references, a shared affinity for Penny Arcade, an interested posture when telling her about bitchin' raids. I should have known earlier, but it doesn't matter at this point.
The first game she and I really sat down and played together was Rainbow Six: Vegas. The Co-op was our playground as we moved (mostly) stealthily through casinos and warehouses. Terrorists could not stand up to our combined might. We never took the fight online, but then again, neither of us are big into online multiplayer.
From there we moved on to other games. I introduced her to Halo, playing through the co-op campaigns for the first two a couple weeks before the release of the third. We'd trade off on Guitar Hero, and eventually worked our way to Rock Band. We hosted Munchkin nights with our friends, trying ever so carefully to nudge them closer to trying D&D.
The novelty of a significant other that enjoyed games as much as I did wore off pretty quickly, but I still find myself smirking with delight over her uncanny ability to stick me from close range, or her ever so frightening ability to handle a Ghost. We've now shared a PAX, and trade off the DS when the other is busy with something else. We are still waiting for the second Professor Layton to come out in the states, and we still can't conquer Green Grass and High Tides on Expert, but we're getting there.
I've got a good life, there's no denying that. I'm not here to rub it in your face though humble reader. I'm just writing this to say thank you to the woman who's encouraged me to keep writing and is always there to play a couple rounds of Halo, or to pick up the vocals when I need a team mate. It tickles me to death to see her get giddy over Far Cry 2 and Red Alert 3. Thanks to the woman who as I write this is playing Crazy King on Guardian.
I couldn't have gotten this far without your support and help. Here's to two great years and many more to come. Hopefully the next few will have a bit more PS3 in them.
