Expressions of Love, Part Two: Chicken Soup for the MMORPG Soul
The other day I was playing World of Warcraft (or World of War-crack, as I’ve heard it called). In that world, I’m a blue-haired Night Elf in leather armor, who kills monsters with a quarter staff and magic spells.
So I’m there, and I’m killing the monsters. Because that’s what they pay me to do. And then, as I near the town to collect payment, I notice that my mail icon is on. “You’ve got mail, pre-industrial druid!”
I go to the mail box and pick up a package. It’s from a stranger – someone named TerrorKnight or BloodTerror or something like that. With the package, there’s a letter. The letter says:
I’m learning to cook. This will give you extra stamina.
– Josh..
Josh is my son. I open the package. It contains five herbed, baked eggs.
Now, whenever I think of my children, I see the icon of a World of Warcraft herbed, baked egg in my mind, with its properties listed underneath. And thus, it has become an icon for the love we share.
Sometimes I mail them gold, if I have extra. My character can’t cook yet. But whenever I can, I skin monsters and use their hides to make my children special, enchanted armor. When they get the packages, the game shows the sender as Night Elf Xora.
But I always sign the letters “Love, Mom.”
