26 Miles

Wii-joice In The Season

// December 10th, 2008 // Life

Happiness is playing your 5-year-old in Wii Tennis and your 7-year-old in Wii Bowling. Humility is watching them both get a higher skill-scores than you.

Thanks to my wife, her Mom, and holiday consumer demand, I was privy to an early surprise Christmas present in the form of a Nintendo Wii. I can once again connect with my inner-adolescent and consume hours trying to help Mario and Luigi live to see another day, or my virtual Cowboys put the smackdown on the Steelers, even when they can’t pull it off in real life.

I was swayed by a presentation a co-worker gave a few years ago about the upside to gaming as a family activity. Until then, I had never thought to look past the pop culture perception that gaming was simply a breeding ground for obese, diabetic couch potatoes or morally-challenged children.

For a time, I was welded to my Atari 2600 far beyond anything we’d allow for our kids, and I turned out OK. Plus, unlike when I was a kid, today games have ratings so parents can be at least marginally aware of the content of the games. Plus the Wii Fit will help keep us in shape! The list of benefits just goes on and on…!

Thanks family for the cool gift. Next up … a DOG!