Pokemon .... how old is too old?

For the past month Jack has been so excited about a Pokemon give away at "Toys R Us". Now you may think I mean a Pokemon card, but you would be wrong. This is a virtual Pokemon that you get by going into Toys R US on a certain day, stand in their electronics dept and hook up to the wireless network, then capture the 'Pokemon' on your DS Pokemon Game. It is all very exciting.

Jack had my calender send reminders to me so I couldn't forget. {the event was from 12:00 to 4:00 pm}Plus he reminded me constantly. Well, he was on task this morning getting all his chores done. Chomping at the bit to go. I was a little nervous wondering if it was all going to go down like he said it would. Sometimes he plans things with information that is wrong and this sets him up for disappointment. Skip checked it all out and it seemed legit.

I came home from a baby shower at 12:30 and told Jack{who was at the door when I walked in} I needed to give everyone lunch and Claire needed to go down for her nap, then we would go. There was some discussion as to whether Sam and Blake would get to go to this momentous occasion, they got to go.

We arrived at the store around 2:00 pm. We were all wondering what or how this event would go. Inside was just like any Toys R US. We looked around and then went over to the electronics dept. I was some what surprised to see several young adult men there. We asked the clerk what to do and this one guy, he had to be in his early twenties, said in a rude and immature voice," read the sign, it's right there." Jack figured it out. Then a couple of kids Jacks age came in, they figured it out. I guess I am not a gamer so I shouldn't be surprised when two more young men in the late teens or early twenties came in. This is the conversation that ensued.

1ym" Did you load the 'pokemon'? I am totally late for work so I could get here to get this." pause..... What is your favorite Pokemon power?

2ym" Water"(without looking up from his DS game)

1ym" Really" {with a slight smile, and a goofy nod} What is you favorite pokemon?"

2ym" He named some weird thing that I can't pronounce.

1ym"Yeah, { then they high fived}

Then an intense discussion broke out about how he has been to every one of these events since he was 12 and driven to ones out of state. This to me was getting sadder by the second. Look these guys should be doing something else, I am not sure what, but not standing in a Toys r Us with a bunch of 8 to 11 year olds having discussions that little boys have. It was embarrassing.

I don't want to judge and I guess maybe I am, but really shouldn't somebody be concerned. Maybe me. These people live in such a virtual world they can't even cope socially. People ask me about my kids getting socialized, since they are home schooled, I think they are fine.