We needed *something* to reconnect...something we could do together to feel like a couple does but there just isn't enough hours in the day. After months of trying to figure out how to literally stop time (think: Out of this World, late 80s sitcom) we just gave that up and tried to figure some better options. My husband yells at me now that I need to spend "me" time and find an activity that I like to do that's relaxing... and my reply is always the same "I don't have time". Now, this conundrum is an entirely different issue but it's all part and partial about US spending time together. There's nothing I can give up and I'm not going to let the PhD suffer or drag out longer than it has to...so we finally broke down and had him reactivate his World of Warcraft account. It makes sense because outside work, this is where I spend the majority of my time.
Now, this may seem silly but it's not. Prior to us even dating we both played WoW pretty heavily; however we were divided by faction (he played Alliance and I played Horde). I fooled around on Alliance but wasn't giving up my precious Horde. Of course, I said that, but that all changed when we actually started dating. I gave up my raiding Undead priest to go play Alliance with him. Shame really, that they didn't have all the transfers and faction changes available now; would have saved me from leveling another priest. WoW, as strange as it sounds, connected us. We loved playing together and chatted incessantly about the game, game mechanics, and the cultural nuances that came along with the culture of MMOs (okay...okay...I admit, I MOSTLY did the talking on the last part but he kindly listened to me). I was always playing catch up though to him since I had to restart a character on Alliance side, leaving my guild and Horde family behind.
When the expansion Burning Crusade came out, we both started over together. Him a Draenei Shaman and me a Draenei Paladin. I still missed Horde side but the Draenei looked so damn cool I was okay with Alliance for once. We played these characters all the way through that expansion and into the next one.
We stopped playing WoW just shortly after the expansion Wrath of the Lich King came out for a variety of reasons. We went a year, year and a half, without touching the game. I still read the forums and kept up with what was going on knowing my PhD work was around the corner. Once I finally nailed down my PhD work I reactivated my account and started playing. Ironically, when I looked for a guild I found the most interesting offers and most interesting people were Horde side. Thank god for Blizzard not only allowing realm changes but I could now take my level 80 Draenei Pally and convert her to a level 80 Blood Elf Pally. After years and years, I was finally home to Horde (and that folks is yet another post for later).
I found myself engaged and excited with the game and in love with the guild that took me in for my research. I talked incessantly at my husband about the game, the guild and especially about the upcoming Cataclysm expansion. I could see him squirm... I could see him fight it... and when they came out with announcements on upcoming Hunter changes I could see him freak inside a little. The next step of course was a no brainer. We needed a way to connect again and he was chomping inside to get back on WoW.
Funny how things come full circle. I was settled back at home with the Horde and his level 60 Dwarf Hunter...was well...alliance. So, he made the faction change over (again...another post about attachments to "sides" and characters in this game). He just did this last night so we'll see how this all works out. Rolliad the Dwarf is now Rolliad the Orc (I "accidentally" named his character when the game first came out - a funny story for another time). I find myself excited to play with him again. Of course, there are "rules" of play as my primary function on being on WoW is for my PhD but it's good to have him there.
Now I just need to wait for him to "grow up" (reach level 80) so we can actually play together. I think it's ironic that I originally made the change over to Alliance for him and now he's made the change over from Alliance to Horde for me. I'm now his "angel" (his words) there to protect him as he levels just like he was my "guardian" when I leveled my priest. I think once he reaches level 80 and we get him some gear we're going to tear shit up.
The point here is that we finally found a way to connect again...sure, we're connecting via a mediated virtual playspace but it works for us. We literally play 10 feet from one another so we chat as we play and engage with one another. More than that we're doing something together, which is more than we've been able to do for the past 4 or 5 months.
His Orc and my Blood Elf make an odd couple and I told him last night, "Good thing we already have kids because, we could make some ugly children"... ;)
