(A/N: While on the road to Connecticut for my dad's godson's wedding, I planned to hit a few arcades up that way. You know, meet a few fellow DDR freaks outside the local population. Although it isn't dated, the events are in chronological order, taken from excerpts in my notebook, and basic memory. Posted a little later than I intended, due to connection trouble, but here it is.)

In preparation for our trip to Connecticut, I have researched arcades in the vicinity of our route. My mom is talking about sightseeing, and hey, I've tagged five arcades along in the directions she wants to go. I pack the list carefully, making sure I don't leave it behind. My dad thinks the idea is ridiculous. Yeah, well, so's his crazy plan to go lobster fishing. You wouldn't catch me anywhere near water up there. Nyah.

Two straight days of being mobile sardines in my dad's SUV, and we're in Mystic, Connecticut. It's pretty, but it's cold (hit mid-20s at night by the day of the wedding) and there's no DDR to speak of.

Luckily, there's a high-speed internet connection in the breakfast room of our hotel, and it's free for hotel guests. I keep checking for arcades. We've got two days until the wedding, and nothing to do. Maybe mom and I will go looking while my dad and brother head off to fish.

No lobster fishing, no far sightseeing. Mom and I memorize the layout of downtown Mystic on morning walks. Dad and Nathan are such late sleepers...

Day before the wedding. I talk with mom about an arcade I looked up in New London. She talks dad into it, and we head off. Dad's not very happy with it, as I don't have actual directions, only an address. We go to a mall we passed on our way up, but it isn't there. Luckily, a very helpful salesman in a jewelry store knows right where we need to go.

I jot down the directions and we head off again.

We find the arcade address. It's at this beachside amusement park-type deal. It's pretty much abandoned.Parents, especially dad, voice their skepticism, but we keep looking.

MBM fun center is in here somewhere...

We spot a surfacing sub offshore, and a SUNBATHER on the beach. The high today is low/mid 40s. And it's windy. Being very much a Florida native, I have a low tolerance for cold, and agree with mom in saying he's nuts.

I find MBM. As it's the off season, it doesn't open until 4:00 PM.

It's 1:43 PM now.

Crap.

After 'wasting our time' as dad effectively puts it, we go back to the hotel. I halfheartedly suggest another location, but I'm flatly denied by the man with the keys to the transportation.

The wedding goes fine. Bride lost her voice, but it's all good.

Back on the hotel computer, I look up arcades on our route home, in just about any state we're due to pass. I want so badly to play somewhere other than home!

In Virginia, I spot two arcades just off the interstate.

I jot them down and hope for the best.

The day after the wedding, we pack up and head home. Around noon we're in VA, and getting hungry. Maybe this could be my lucky chance...

I suggest we stop in Fredericksburg, as it's right along the way.

Dad isn't impressed, especially after he asks for an explanation why.

I give up. Fine, I'll drown my travel goal in tokens on my home turf when we get back.

As I read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, mom picks an exit, and dad pulls off. There's a huge shopping center where we can get lunch. I glance out the window, and see a familiar name on a sign:

Fun Land.

No way.

I snatch my little notebook out of my back pocket and open it to the marked page. Fun Land, Fredericksburg, VA.

The exit was to Fredericksburg.

Ah, the irony.

Yay, mom.

And it'll be right on our way out after lunch. I'm glad to have mom on my side here.

We grab snack food at a Wal-Mart, and pull into Fun Land. Dad and Nathan chill in the SUV and eat while mom and I head in. The place is huge. We inquire, and find that the machine is in the back. I purchase enough tokens for one game and hurry to it.

The marquee says simply 'Dance Dance Revolution'. Wow. Classic stuff. The screen is dingy, though, and the pad looks like it's seen WAY better days. For crying out loud, the metal casing is bent and dangerous-looking in a few places. One strip of metal paneling is jutting up. Yikes.

I'm not going to be choosy, though. The paneling is ripped on the other side of the pad.

I slip in my tokens and start up a game. It's rather difficult to read the screen, but not impossible. I'm playing DDR in Virginia, this is something to add to my list.

As I make my selections, I realize that this isn't Dance Dance Revolution, this is DDR Extreme, they just haven't replaced the marquee. Okayy...

Another thing that slightly deflates my good mood, I accidentally select Love This Feelin' while looking away. I like the song, but I don't like dancing to it at all.

Brushing my distaste aside, I get ready to play.

What the heck?

I'm hitting the arrows, but nothing is registering. God, this makes our poor old machine look PRISTINE! Only one arrow seems to have any functioning sensors!

I fail miserably, despite my best efforts. Out of tokens and enthusiasm, I sulk out of the arcade, into the vehicle, and into my lunch.

Why is it that any distant DDR venture of mine has ended in failure? Bah.

I'm relating to Marvin from the Hitchhiker's Guide now.

Finally, we get home. I never thought I'd be so happy to see 90 humidity. After two nights of righting my internal clock from late nights and lack of sleep, my brother and I head to the mall. My territory. It's been a while.

Being Saturday, some regulars are around. Good to see them.

I get it out of my system. I pour my tokens into the slot, and my spirit into keeping my feet moving. I pull out a few freestyle moves. I play until my throat hurts from breathing so hard.

Then I go home, still disappointed in my plan, but in the long run, satisfied. DDR is an addiction easily sated, regardless of location.

Today. Sunday. My legs are killing me. It seems it took this long for a week and a half of not working out, 15+ total miles of walking in Mystic, and two or three sudden hours of DDR to kick in. my left ankle is stiff, the calf muscle sore. In my right leg, the pain is in my thigh, nearer my hip.

The soles of my feet are tired from the impact.

I laugh at my own self-inflicted trouble. I'm such an extremist. There's no discretion on my part. I always burn myself out completely. I dance for all or nothing.

But I'll heal up and be at it again. There's always tomorrow.