Just like skaters, game geeks have their own version of "Animal Chin."

Best of all, he's from Spokane.

Every several years or so, I run across this old man. I don't know his name. His appearance is always very pleasant, with kind of an Uncle Sam-vibe about him. He carries an entire library's worth of D&D volumes in what looks like Samsonite luggage; either on a cart or on wheels of some kind.

I've never actually seen him in a group. He's almost always by himself organizing his huge pile of RPG books.

I first saw him back in the early 90s at Game Faire, and even back then he was easily the oldest gamer there.

AD&D 2nd edition was still fairly new that first time I saw him, but he was a 1st ed. holdout with stacks and stacks of the classic OOP volumes on this luggage cart thing.

So anyway, after 15-17 some odd years on and off, I see the same guy again at Merlyn's today. It was amazing! I couldn't tell if he was in an actual group or not. He was doing his book-shuffling thing like he always does when I see him. He's got a cane now. More like a shillelagh of sorts.

So WHO is this guy and just how long has he been gaming?

Hope he makes it to SpoCon this year. He's more than welcome to play at our table.

So wherever you are "Mr. Chin" we salute you.

-PJ