When I was in middle school (and sporadically through high school), I played a lot of Magic: the Gathering. Every Saturday, after working at a family friends' breakfast joint for the morning shift, I'd go home, take a shower, and be dropped off at the local card store in Timberlyne shopping center, where I'd play cards the whole day.

I remember seeing the same people week in and week out - I'd get to know some of the older guys who played every conceivable card/board game out there ... I wonder what happened to all of them.

One of guys who worked there, Travis, was a real cool dude. He'd sneak me a free booster pack every once in a while.

Looking back, it seems pretty pathetic ... but I remember it one of my happier moments from my childhood.

(I'm not sure what brought on this nostalgia, but I'm pretty sure it's listening to Stone Temple Pilots - I think I used to listen to these guys weekly through the store radio).