Creating memories with RPGs

This morning I had a curious interaction: the Amazon delivery guy came (if you are curious, he was bringing me a new package of sleeves I had ordered since I just got my copy of Hellbringer and I had ran out, and one doesn't play a card game without sleeves). So I open the door, take the package from him, thank him, and wish him a good day. But the guy just stood there, looking at me with clear expectation in his eyes. So I just stared at him, waiting for him to say something. When he realized I wasn't going to say anything, he said "it's been a long time! I used to bring you your Carrefour (a local supermarket) orders a few years ago". To be fair, I didn't remember him at all because it had been at least four years since my last order there and it was never the same delivery guy. So I just said "oh sure, nice to see you again, I hope you've been well", but that seemed to be enough to make him happy, and he left with a smile.

So why am I telling you this silly little story? Because it made me realize how much we want to be seen and remembered, even by strangers you interact with once or twice in your life. And since I'm an obsessive person who only thinks about RPGs, I of course tied that idea to RPGs, and how and why we play them. Who among you doesn't have a cool memory of one of your beloved characters in a game, regardless of how long time ago it took place? I used to think that I remembered that sort of stuff mostly because of the interactions with other people, with my friends, and even though that definitely makes circumstances more memorable, playing solo RPGs has made me realize that it isn't always the case. I have absolutely epic memories about my lonely rogue trying to sneak past a guard, failing, and being chased with 1 HP left across town, even if that session took place years ago. Furthermore, it doesn't have to be a single character: I cannot remember a single one of the poor bastards that I throw into a Dungeon Crawl Classics funnel now and then, but I do remember the absolutely hilarious results with detail.

How often has someone asked you "why are you wasting your time playing games?" I'm sure more than once. And aside from the obvious answer ("it's fun"), I would go a step further and say: because life is often very monotonous and grey, and these splashes of color that a good gaming session can bring to it really crystalize into cherished memories. Sure, a fun, interesting RPG will never beat the excitement of seeing your favorite band play live, or going swimming in a coral reef, or those types of activities that we all associate with good memories, but these are memories we are creating by ourselves purely through the power of our imagination, and that can often last a lifetime. I think that alone is absolutely amazing.

So what's my point with all this? I'm not even sure myself. I just wanted to remind you all of how awesome RPGs are for being able to empower our imagination and enrich our lives in such a deep way, with such a minimalist setup.

Have a great weekend!