100 Word Challenge: Craze

You would have to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of the newest Pokémon craze. A huge fad from the late 90s, early 2000’s, Pokémon was everywhere – collector cards, cartoons, movies and video games. Well, it’s back, and back in a big way.

When my son was little, he collected the cards. He never learned how to play that game, but he did have Game Cube games. He kept the collector cards… for posterity he says, as an investment he says. Considering the game’s resurgence, he might be right.

Now, at age 24, he has the newest incarnation on his smartphone – Pokémon Go! A GPS enabled game where you wander around your neighborhood, parks, shopping malls, even your own back yard, hunting for various characters. Teams have formed, sides chosen, it’s an all out invasion.

It also gets kids – and adults – outside and walking, getting their exercise serendipitously. On the first day my son downloaded the app, he and I took a walk around our neighborhood. We were out a good half hour, traveled at least a mile. Going for a walk together? We haven’t done that since he was a kid. (He did captured about six Pokémon so chances are there will be a repeat adventure.)

There have been “incidents” of people walking into traffic, falling off bridges… one young woman even found a dead body floating in a creek while trying to hunt down a Water Pokémon.

I don’t know if this is a mania that is destined to burn brightly for a short time, only to fizzle after a few months, or if it is here to stay for years… like the Fitbit. Whatever it is, however long it’s around, Pokémon Go is an amazing phenomenon.

“Nobody creates a fad. It just happens. People love going along with the idea of a beautiful pig. It’s like a conspiracy.” ~ Jim Henson

This week’s word is:

Craze

Using “craze” for inspiration, write 100 Words – 100 exactly – no more, no less. You can either use the word – or any form of the word – as one of your 100, or it can be implied. Include a link in your post back here, and add your story to the Mister Linky list. If you don’t have a blog, you can leave your submission in the comment section, or as a Facebook status post. Remember to keep spreading the love with supportive comments for your fellow wordsters.