Video Game Flashbacks

This afternoon I was sitting in my cube (That's right, people - I have a cubical) listening to the radio online. (WQBK Q103 - home of Free Beer and Hot Wings - to be specific)

I know what you're wondering: Is he going to tell me about hearing Creed twice in one day?

No. Maybe some other time.

Anyway, I was listening to the radio when all of a sudden I hear the opening chords for "Mother" by Danzig. Now, most people would hear this and think "Oh, OK. They're playing Danzig."

Not me though. As soon as I heard the first chord my hands started to move involuntarily. My left hand started to twitch and my arm moved so that it looked like I was a half-assed hitchhiker. My right hand made a weak fist and moved down towards my pocket.

Suddenly I started to hear colors:

Red. Green. Blue. Yellow. Orange.

That's when I realized I was playing Guitar Hero in a crowed office...

Back story: My love affair with GH wasn't that long-lived. When Lauren came home last Fall we played all the time. But that was only for a couple months. We had ripped copies of each version: 1, 2, III, The 80's - you name it, we played it.

Eventually, Lauren's sister got a Nintendo Wii and we refocused our energy on basement bowling and left GH behind. Sure I never moved past the Medium setting (5 buttons was way to hard) but Guitar Hero changed my life.

Whenever I'm driving and hear certain songs, I'm immediately transported back in time and place.

It's terrifying. What if I'm out driving in a snow storm some night when I start flipping through radio stations and Scan myself right into the middle of Metallica's One?

Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell

Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell

At this point, solo number 74 kicks in, I freak the shit and crash into a snow plow.

Now, I don't read a lot of medical journals, but I'm pretty sure they'd need Gregory House to figure out why the hell this coma-guy keeps head-banging.

It's scary stuff, man. And that's why video games are bad for you.