It's My Dad's Fault

I play an online game called Rings of Orbis. In the forums, a person started a thread titled, "Why are you here?" Here's where we take another fun look into the thought process of a woman with serious adult ADD.

It's my Dad's fault that I play that online game. Stay with me.

You see, my Dad watches Westerns. Lots and lots of Westerns. And I was indoctrinated into the world of westerns at a very young age. I was quoting John Wayne at 3 and I'm pretty sure my dad used the War Wagon theme song as a lullaby. We spent many a weekend hanging out watching Jack Pallance 'get his' and Chuck Connors trying to redeem his name. Love of Westerns - check.

When I was in 2nd grade (8 years old, so you don't have to do the math), the trailer for The Shining came on TV and I was petrified. You can view the trailer here. My Dad took time to tell me how it was made of Cherry Koolaid (not at all true - Stanley Kubrick shot it numerous times because the texture and color 'didn't look like blood'). He did this for every scary movie question I had until I developed a strong love of horror films. Love of Horror - check.

That same year, The Empire Strikes Back came to our theater. Dad took me to see it. The theater had trouble with the film and the entire audience was offered refunds as we dejectedly left before the movie was finished. My disappointment was more than palpable, I'm sure. So my Dad, who had just bought himself a suh-weeeet red Nissan 280ZX, took me home Han Solo style. We swerved and shifted crazily pretending to outrun Imperial enemies. Love of Sci-Fi - check. Twice.

So, even though my Dad doesn't love scary movies or sci-fi, his coolness solidified my love of those genres. That's why, when a friend loaned me the already canceled Firefly Season 1 DVD set, I was a goner. A space western. With a scary twist. Once it was over, I was left in the same pool of people who fell in love with prematurely canceled Fox series. Wanting more. Jonesing for more. And like an addict who can't get the real stuff, I went to the next best thing - new series with the actors from Firefly. Chuck and Castle are both currently in my DVR favorites. I even 'follow' Nathan Fillion on Twitter. Leading to the answer, why do I play Rings of Orbis? Why, because Nathan Fillion endorsed it. And he was Captain Mal. Who reminded me of Han Solo. Who reminds me of my Dad. The coolest space cowboy of them all.