Virtual Adventures with Mom

The pandemic put us in a tough spot just like the rest of the world. We had just moved from our home of 13 years and away from my best friend, my Mom. My health started tanking and driving long distances became difficult.

Thankfully Mom and I, had Second Life, a virtual world where we could hang out despite illness and despite quarantines.

Mom and I have hung out in Second Life for many years but after I moved we began to get together on there more often...especially around the holidays. 2022 marks the third birthday I haven't gotten to spend with her in person. This year she turned 65 and again we celebrated in Second Life. There's something about having an avatar that can make a person feel like they are really hanging out physically. I once had the privilege to be invited to a wedding in Second Life and it was special to those who hosted it.

Now, of course, there are limits to true fellowship when you're only online. It helps to know someone in person so you can pick up on their mannerisms and appreciate their glorious flaws (which an avatar would never have). I'm very close to my Mom and have lived with her as a child and an adult. So I'm not worried about virtual reality tainting our relationship. Second Life only enhances what we already have.

The one qualm I have about our virtual adventures is that if something happened to either of us, no one would know the depth of our cheer. They won't know how deep of an experience we had year after year in the virtual world. So I'm going to remedy this by posting Virtual Adventures with Mom episodes on my travel blog. Pictures don't do justice to the complete hilarity of teaching my mother how to operate the frustrating technology of Second Life. However, I hope to show you how technology can bridge the gap, distance has put between us. Yes, it is possible to travel from your living room chair. I hope you'll come experience the magic!

Birthdays in Second Life can be a hoot. I usually choose something I know my Mom loves in real life.

In 2020, we rode motorcycles, ate at an old school diner, and hung out at my rental (I'm homeless again now...thankfully only a virtual problem!). My Mom used to ride in real life when she was young. She completely freaked me out when she told me she rode while pregnant with my sister. Mom isn't quite as wild now! ;)

Two of our favorite things to do in Second Life (SL) are to eat and drive.

It's funny because in real life we both have issues with those things because of health problems. We, however, drive much safer in real life. Mom in particular often gets us into conundrums when she drives in SL.

Our avatars are pretty, like most avatars. We're not really flawless but I do feel our avatars reflect our true spirit. Mom's avatar is taller than me and though she's shorter in real life, I will always look up to her. We stick to our real-world morals even though we're online. I believe several virtual problems would be fixed by people not doing things in SL that go against their RL (real life) morals.

We dress a bit more lavishly than we do in real life. However, my RL red hair is reflected in my avatar and we both really do enjoy dressing in costumes for parties, Halloween, and the occasional Renaissance Fair. We just haven't been able to do those things together in a while. And although we can't financially travel the world, we definitely have adventure in our hearts and have as long as I can remember. It was Mom who taught me how to explore the world's wonders.

This year (2022), we had a lovely meal at the gorgeous Seaside Restaurant.

I've gotten into the habit of dressing us in matching clothing or clothes that fit a theme. Mom...errr...often has wardrobe issues when she tries to dress herself. Now in the real world, getting dressed is easy. However, in Second Life, you have to click on folders and attach and detach different elements. If you're not careful you may accidentally detach your undergarments or your wig, while trying to get rid of a fork you're holding. It can be very embarrassing to have such wardrobe malfunctions in public. I don't photograph these problems but as you can imagine, we've had many a laugh over these struggles. It's more prevalent than our driving accidents!

It's also hilarious to overhear me trying to explain to Mom how to get her clothes back on. There are several communication issues over the phone. "Mom, go into your inventory and search 'underpants'. Yes, underpants! What do you see? okay, double click to wear it. Hurry before someone comes up! No, Mom...it's the folder...". And so on. My husband often gives us strange looks. "Honey, don't come in here! Mom is having wardrobe issues on Second Life." Thankfully, my avatar hasn't accidentally appeared naked in years, but I do often lose my hair by attaching something to my skull instead of another area. So Mom has her chance to laugh at me as well. You've heard of first and third-world problems? Well, these are virtual world problems :).

After we enjoyed fine dining (at a place I'd never be able to afford in real life), we teleported to a ski resort. In real life, I'm terrified to ski but virtual skiing is just fine.

Mom took us on a sledding adventure.

I should've known better than to let her drive!

Then we visited the Makanyi Safari Resort. Now, I apologize for not adding links but I find that "places" in Second Life are so transient that it's useless to post them. You can always search for the destinations on SL and see if they still exist. At least my blog, will give these fun places a footprint.

I drove this time and even though I ran over the occasional leopard, I think I did well.

After we saw the animals, we tried our hand at archery.

Archery wore us out and we ended the evening with some lemonade by the elephants.

I have so many adventures to share with you from over the years. I still plan (Lord willing), to share my individual adventures too. These days I mainly hang out with Mom but I have folder upon folders of past exploration. I had a neat adventure a couple of years ago, as Daphne from Scooby-Doo, where I checked out a creepy carnival. That'll be fun :).

My greatest delight though is hanging out with my best friend, as we go where we've never gone before. Well, come back soon!

God bless & remember the High King lives! -Amber Dover

PS: Do you know Jesus as your savior? It's as easy as ABC. A-admit to God you're a sinner and need a savior, B-believe in your Heart that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save you, and C-confess Jesus as your Lord. Knowing the King of the Universe personally, is the greatest adventure ever!

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9