The mysterious art of Artemis

I woke to find the shimmering light of Artemis dancing into my room. My brain constructing complicated scenarios in a wistfully precise language I know I’ll never capture, the only audience will be my half-conscious mind.

I realise the foundation of this dream was a game. Fearing my son’s addiction to a new first-person shooter I investigated and got myself addicted too. Now I battle it out nightly, collecting weapons, fending off attacks and aiming to survive. The dream scenario would appeal to other gamers. It’s layered with pathos, understanding and steeped in visual and metaphoric references.

In dreaming about the game I realise the level of my addiction and come to an impasse. I must accept that the game has a place in my life for the moment and make appropriate time for it. Shape it into a useful and fun exploit that gives relief from my daily concerns. Much the same way I’ve incorporated a love of movies, reading and chocolate. Or I could opt for the alternative, cold turkey.

Perhaps yet a third option exists, the ability to extract the fundamentals of my dream and shape it into something gamers such as my son might appreciate. If only it were not held within the constraints of my Luna induced dreams.

It’s after 3 am and the influence of Artemis may well have peaked. My mind is turning to the consequences of insomnia. I hear a cat outside. Perhaps two. Are they wailing at the moon in their own way as I am by committing these words to electrons? Perhaps one option is to take a feline approach. Embrace the early hours of the day and find a nice sunny spot later and curl up to recover. If only my human life permitted such indulgences. Artemis, casting her presence with her silvery light through my window is telling me it can.

Who am I to argue?

3:44 am
28 February 2018

 

Evan Shapiro
Author – Road to Nowhere

P.S. Forgive if this post makes no sense in sunlight. It was meant for moonbeams.

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2 Comments on “The mysterious art of Artemis

  1. Beautifully written post Evan.

    As the Dad of the lad who your son plays the very same first person shooter with, (at every opportunity), I too have concerns over his gamer addiction. I’ll be keeping an eye on it…..

    What I’ve found enlightening is how this has taken over the role the humble telephone played in my youth. The way they interact in game and with voice, sometimes with many of their friends, is the way this generation ‘use the phone’ to call their mates. It’s a damn sight more entertaining.

    The fact that you have ventured into the game is wonderful and a testament to your Dad skills. Enjoy your dreams, and the enviable relationship you have with your talented, very well mannered son.

    1. Thank you, Warren,
      That’s a good point you make about the game’s communication. I’m certain the interaction with each other is a big part of the appeal. For me at that age communicating with friends occurred out and about, riding a bike around the neighbourhood, going to each other’s houses or like you say over the phone. Being a child of the 80s some of that time was spent staying up late playing Atari or the Amega with friends. We could have loved to have the kind of tech these guys have. It helps to know that their gaming is balanced with the love they have to get outside and do things offline.

What do you think?