Myth Mix

Dr. Mario came along later in the game and it appealed to a different sensibility. My father, for example, wouldn't waste his time playing Super Mario Brothers. To him, Super Mario was juvenile, ridiculous, and too hard. Perhaps it was the left to right motion of the game--my father grew up playing pinball and was probably more comfortable with the top to bottom motion of Dr. Mario.

As for me, even as a kid, I found Super Mario Brothers absurd and childish. Even then (I was ten years old) I considered the game a tremendous waste of time. Dr. Mario offered a way out: It actually seemed productive! Of course, this might have been the addiction talking.

Today, I find it hard to play any type of video game. I suppose I can't help but feel like Hemingway, who writes about wasting time in A Moveable Feast: "I felt the death loneliness that comes at the end of every day that is wasted in your life."

By the way, I too was what you might call a mythological kid. I was groomed on Clash of the Titans and a hardback book called Gods, Men, & Monsters from the Greek Myths. I loved the illustrations by Giovanni Caselli.

We'll have to talk about the myth thing because myth looms large in my life. Only thing, when I was younger I was attracted to Greek mythology because I loved the heroism of Hercules and Perseus. I wanted to be a hero. As an adult though I realize that what attracts me to the myths is the obvious weaknesses of the heroes. Today, I feel much closer to the fucked-up gods of Homer than Harry Hamlin's Perseus. (Although I still love Clash of the Titans...)

OK, I have the day off from work and I'm about to dive into a new story. I have no idea where I'm going...I'm a little worried.

(You never answered my question: What the hell is smitage?)