Remember When #4: Pinball Wizard
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That was my goal. I was going to be a pinball wizard.
My Pappy (my dad’s dad) had just remarried a woman (Eleanor) who happened to have a pinball machine in her basement. Now, I’d already figured out everything I’d needed to know about slot machines since my dad brought one of those home a while back and pinball was definitely more interactive and challenging. I was ready!
Like everything else in my life, I spent a lot of hours at that pinball table. I learned how to work the flippers with my little hands, how much I could nudge the machine with my body and avoid a “tilt”, and I thrilled each and every time I bested my last score. I was obsessed. I even read the book “Tilt”, which was later made into a movie of the same name starring Brooke Shields. If there was a song, TV show, book, movie, or anything related to pinball, I was on it!
As I got older and Atari games came out (they had a pinball game y’all!), I played those, played other video games (and was pretty good), and basically became almost equally obsessed with air hockey, I never got over my fascination and love for pinball. The clangs and clicks and bells and lights were enchanting. Every game different, but fundamentally the same. I played every pinball machine I saw.
The newer machines aren’t nearly as much fun as the earlier ones. The new have computerized boards and artificial sounds, beeps and boops that just don’t quite make the experience nearly as fun as older pinball was. Still, I played. I just didn’t like it as much.
Would you believe I spent the last few hours of a romantic getaway to the picturesque Poconos playing pinball and air hockey? Obviously, my darling understood my love for him was greater than that of anything else and he played along with me. He seemed to enjoy the games as much as I did, even when I won.
These days, I walk into a room and spy a pinball machine and my heart races a little. Okay, a lot. I’m immediately taken back to a time when I was a little girl standing in front of my first table, eager to play. I approach the game, run my hand across the glass top, whisper a few sweet nothings, and then go find some quarters.
I guess part of me will never outgrow some of the games and amusements from childhood. And you know what? I’m okay with that.
And don’t forget to go check out ElectrikCandyland‘s great photography.
Love this post. :biggrin:
Comment by Theresa — 2009/10/19 @ 04:12
Beautiful photograph!
I never played pinball.
Comment by Pam — 2009/10/19 @ 13:22
Regarding vertigo,a family member used to have it. Got rid of it by taking antihistamines(in his case,it was an allergy that affected the ears,hence vertigo).
May not be in your case, of course, but if you take an Allerest it might help…
Comment by chris Muir — 2009/10/20 @ 23:15
Thanks, Theresa.
Pam, you simply have to give it a go.
Chris, I’m really not sure of the cause, but nerve compression in the neck can do it. I’m thinking this was a double whammy situation with a little of compression AND some congestion. Right now, I’m sort of in that compression phase, but it’s getting better. Finally!
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/10/21 @ 08:35
I once ran the Playboy pinball machine at the Regulator in Macomb, IL all night long on just 4 quarters. Pinball Nirvana.
Comment by Omnibus Driver — 2009/10/21 @ 11:22
I tilted the damn thing just looking at it!
Yes, I have priors.
Comment by JihadGene — 2009/10/23 @ 19:30
Leslie, I bow before you!
Gene, :rofl: Thank you for that laugh! You totally rock.
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/10/24 @ 00:35