Super Birga-o's World

This blog needs to have sound effects.  Since I don't think this site can accommodate me, you'll need to use your imagination. To begin, please start humming the "Super Mario Brothers" song.  Now, imagine me (or yourself) walking through the overly simplistic video game world.  You'll need to jump out of the way of (or shoot fireballs at) the mushrooms, turtles and Venus fly traps (??) that come out of the green pipes. 





If you have survived the level, and made it into the tube that takes you to the underground world, please change the song in your head now.



This slightly sinister melody has been playing for me this afternoon/evening as I try to make my way back to the surface.  The irony of this "world" is that I know how to defeat these lesser enemies, but they often get the better of me as I get distracted by other tasks. 

As a kid (and teen) I always loved to go over to any friend's house that had a Nintendo.  We didn't have any type of gaming system at our home, and any time I got a chance to play Super Mario, I was as happy as could be.  But, I was terrible at it!  I always died in the most careless of ways.  I'd fall off a cliff or be killed by a turtle (with or without throwing hammers).  I never seemed to learn (or remember) when/where to duck, jump or avoid danger. 

Now, as a big kid, I find that I make many of the same mistakes walking through real life.  I know the problems, emotions, personalities and situations that knock me down.  But for whatever reason, I don't do a very good job of avoiding them, or learning from them.  Confronted again today by a repeat problem, I didn't duck.  Instead, it hit me square in the chest, and (cue the shrinking Mario sound effect) I felt quite a bit smaller then I had moments before.

So, now I need to recharge.  I know where to look to get what I need to be restored to full size.  And, if I keep going, I can add on some Fire Power!

Though I never won the game, I did on occasion complete a level.  There was always that little tingle of excitement when I got to jump on the flag pole and raise the banner of victory.  So (cue the last musical jingle of the blog), lookout world, I'm going to press forward.  It's only a matter of time before get to the castle!