How did this happen?

I blame it all on my teenage daughter.  The first step to recovery is admitting there is a problem.  That does not apply here.  In fact, as I a write this I am checking the feed for gifts and collectibles regularly.

About two years ago my daughter was spending a lot of time on the internet, “Facebook.” She said.  Then she told me about this, “…fun little game…” and, “You should play this, Mom!”  Oh, I pooh-poohed it for awhile. “Ha, ha sure, I am way too busy for those kind of games.” A few days later she said, “Mom, I need neighbors. Let me help you get started.”  She set me up on Facebook and hooked up THE Game.  She included instructions about planting and harvest timing.  There was little more to THE Game than that.  Things have certainly changed.

There were a few little plots and a cow, if I recall correctly.  It is all a blur at this point.  I remember wondering how to water and feed.  Where’s the irrigation and fertilizer?  I even posted that question.  Responses included but were not limited to:  “LOL you are so funny!”  “Only YOU would come up with something that silly!”  I was still baffled yet curious.  Within a short time I discovered that timing was important.  Though there was no watering or feeding there was the whole “harvest time” issue.  Withered crops were costly and could not be tolerated.  This sent me into research mode. 

I clicked around wildly trying to find answers to questions about strategy and tactics. Every crop had cost and time factor.  My budget was dependent on getting every detail finely timed.  I could gain income by setting each crop with new plots.  With each success my determination grew.  My level increased.  My avatar or profile picture on the “film strip” at the bottom of THE Game screen quickly passed my “neighbors.”  I was “leveling up” regularly. The adrenaline and motivation mounted.  The endorphin rush had a tight grasp on me.

Each day I would plan responsibilities, work and chores around farming and harvesting.  THE Game was evolving quickly.  There were new crops and gifts.  There were new animals and gifts.  There were crops and gifts that were untouchable until certain levels were achieved.  I MUST have more levels.  Every waking minute I checked the feed for gifts and then I hit a wall.  There were expansions that could not be achieved without more neighbors.  I must have more neighbors.  I am not proud of this but I resorted to threatening my daughter’s friends.  They had to become my Facebook friend and my neighbor on THE Game.  Every opportunity I had was directed toward getting new neighbors.