You, your spouse and World of Warcraft

It's starting to get light outside. The first streaks of sunlight coming in through the blinds and the clock reads 5:30. I am startled when I hear her voice behind me, "You didn't come to bed again?"

I close my laptop and go crawl into bed. "Honey," I say, "Please call me at seven, OK?" With reservation in her voice, she agrees, once again. God, I love this woman, I think I am addicted to her. Even more than to my girlfriend, an '05 RoadStar Silverado motorcycle. Even more than to my whore, the MMORPG, World of Warcraft. I should be, I married her!

Seven o'clock rolls around and the house phone rings. It's my wife calling to wake me up from my hour and a half nap. I get up, roust the children. I send the teen off to high school, and get the boy ready for 3rd grade. I walk the boy to school with the dogs, two Bichon Frise's, then walk back home. The man that just walked past me, looks like a Gnome.

As I get close to the door, I can feel it... my heart rate increases. I walk inside and unleash the dogs. I head straight for the laptop, open it and log on to World of Warcraft. The dogs are thirsty and want some water, but their water dish is empty. They can wait a minute, I just have to check my mail to see what auctions have sold.
Now need I exchange pleasantries with the people who are members of the guild I run. One of them needs help in dungeon. I'm on it!

2 hours later we finish up the quests they needed to complete, and I can put my Level 60 Paladin to rest for a few hours. I'm going to be late to work if I don't hustle. I shower, shave, pack up the laptop, gear up, head to the motorcycle for my short commute to the office.

I have a couple of meetings, work on the computer, and talk to my wife frequently throughout the day. When I arrive at home at 7:30 in the evening, I get my normal warm greeting...

The puppies run to me; My son hugs me and starts his tale of school day activities followed by his progress at leveling his 26 Paladin (just like Daddy!); My wife greets me warmly with a kiss and a hug, followed by pleading eyes asking me for some help completing a couple of quests. I have a couple bites of dinner, then head back to the living room to play again.

I admit it. I am a World of War-crack addict. My wife just recently started playing after a year of putting up with my intolerable absence from our evenings together. She has recognized that being the primary bread-winner in the family, and having no other vices, this is how I relax and stay entertained. She graciously allows me this. Why does she permit this behavior? I'll tell you what I think...

I don't drink, smoke, or use drugs. I go to church almost every Sunday and tithe weekly. We have family business meetings once each month to make sure we are on the same page of the book, so to speak. I help he keep the house, and I make sure the laundry is washed and dried. When she wants to talk to me, I stop playing and TRY to focus on her, making sure I respond appropriately to her questions and statements. When we need groceries or anything that requires a shopping trip of some kind, I stop playing and go with her.

I take her out to eat a couple of times each month so we can have some time where it is just the two of us. We talk several times each day and are each others best friend. I put her in bed each night (before I go back to playing the game), and make sure the left-overs from dinner are put away. We have sex at least 2 times each week, watch movies together, and enjoy cool stuff, like cars and technology, together.

In April of this year. 2007, I am taking a three-day motorcycle trip with one of my best male friends to Yuma, Arizona. I will not have my laptop, or internet access, or World of Warcraft... How will I survive?

I don't care who you are in this world - if you want to have a good relationship with your spouse or significant other, you have to be willing to compromise Compromise, COMPROMISE! Remember that while you can't read your spouse's mind, your spouse cannot read yours either. You must make sure you communicate and do so regularly.

Be nice, have fun, and enjoy each other's company!