Showing support for someone’s hobbies, goals, and passions is one of the best things anyone can do for a loved one. For me, an understanding of and appreciation for my love of the Zelda series is one of the better ways for me to know that someone cares about me.
That’s what my mom did for nearly 20 years.
My mom, Leah, died in August. She was 59. Young, by our standards. It was sudden, it was unexpected, and my family and I are still coming to terms with our loss. To everyone who knew her, she was the kindest and most caring individual they had ever met. She loved people, especially her family. Whenever you spoke with her, you knew she was listening. You knew she had an invested interest in how you were doing.
As horrible as it was to lose her, I know that what she taught me and what she did for me will help me rise above the pain. In this moment, what I want to remember is one of those things she did for me: She supported my Zelda obsession, and she did so in all the right ways.
She didn’t get it, but she knew it was important
There’s a situation any parent would understand: Your kid is obsessed with something, and you don’t know the first thing about it. That was my mom’s issue in 2003 when I picked up another new favorite video game series: The Legend of Zelda.
Let’s make one thing clear before I continue: My mom was not big into fiction. And fantasy fiction was about as low on her “not interested” list as anything could get. She also shared a similar lack of interest in video games. How fortunate for her that Zelda combined both of these things.
But she did not try to discourage me from it. Mom only wanted me to be cautious, as she knew how easily I could become hooked on something. Once I explained what Zelda was all about, she left me to it. She never understood it, but the important thing was that I loved it, and it wasn’t detrimental to me. She knew that she knew enough.
She never let it or anything else take over my life
My mom always kept the balance as I grew up playing Zelda. She made sure nothing went too far. When she needed to tell me to turn the GameCube off and go to bed, she did it. Video games were a luxury. They still are. They always will be. Games could have controlled my life. I fully admit I could have grown up to be one of those people who don’t know how to put the controller down or set aside the gaming aspect of my life when need be. I love games, but I don’t need them. They never come first. I have my parents to thank for that wisdom.
She learned what it meant to me and what it did for me
As she guided me toward the proper balance, Mom went the extra mile. No, she never got to the point of playing Zelda herself, but she knew when the time was right to indulge me. That was more than enough. If you need the people in your life to fully support and love the things you love as much as you do, and you get mad if they don’t, they aren’t the problem. You are.
And she didn’t need to love Zelda to do the ridiculous things that we fans do. One example was when she went with me to the midnight launch of the Wii to make sure I got the system. I wasn’t able to preorder the system, but I had preordered Twilight Princess. I needed the system so I could play the game when I picked it up the next day. The Wii’s release was a big event. I mean, she didn’t care at all, but she didn’t see the harm in going along with the ridiculousness if it meant I could play something I had been waiting years for.
She shared in my excitement to work for Zelda Universe
The last thing she did for me and my Zelda love was support me in what I’m doing right now: writing for Zelda Universe.
From a young age, I loved writing about Zelda. During all four years of high school, I was required to pick a topic and write a lengthy paper about it. In my third year, I learned that I could write a work of fiction instead. For that year and the next one, I worked on my first (and only) Zelda fanfiction. Also, I was homeschooled. That meant my mom was the one who would give my topic the final approval. It was Zelda. She knew that meant I’d get it done, enjoy doing it, and do a good job.
Mom understood that my zeal could motivate me in my writing. That understanding resurfaced years later when I joined Zelda Universe in 2018. She was happy that had I found a site dedicated to Zelda. And as time passed, and I took on more responsibilities for Zelda Universe, she was always eager to hear what I was up to, even if she didn’t understand the work or the topic. Whenever we talked, and the subject of Zelda Universe came up, she wanted to know all of the details. All that mattered to her was that I enjoyed what I was doing. She loved that I had a hobby that helped me grow in multiple ways.
She helped our relationship grow
Mom was never a Zelda fan, at least in the sense of playing the games. But in an ironic twist, she became a fan in the sense that she loved the positive effects the games had on me. And they only had those positive effects on me because she did her best when raising me. Mom put in the effort to take part in my life. I saw that as I got older, and I appreciated it as I matured. We became closer, and I have Zelda partly to thank for it.
The hole that’s been left in my heart is never going to be filled for the rest of my time on this earth. I know that. But I also know that I will see her again. Till then, I can remember all that my mom did for me. And I can honor her by continuing to love the things in my life that have meant the most to me.
Today would have been her 60th birthday. I love you, mom. Happy birthday.
