• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

When you discover you aren’t the only people still playing Pokemon Go

July 21, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

One of my favorite ways to spend a day is to split our family in half and have each parent take one of the boys on an outing. Sometimes we just go to the grocery store, but every once in a while we kick it up a notch and try something special.On Saturday morning half of our family went to see a movie, and Daniel and I went to a batting cage and then to the mall. He picked a lunch spot where he could watch the Orioles game while he ate his burger and mashed potatoes, and then we headed on a long walk through the mall to get back to our car.

As we were about to step outside, though, I realized I had left my umbrella at the restaurant. So we headed back. And, as we walked through the mall, we saw a large group of people gathered—a few families with children, but mostly teens and young people in their 20s.

“It’s a raid, Mom!” Daniel told me—surveying the crowd and holding my phone up to show me the Pokemon Go screen. “There’s a Zapdos!”

There was no question in my mind. Of course we were going to join this group of random strangers and battle in this virtual raid on this game on our phones. So we did, as Daniel picked six Pokemon to take on this rare, legendary Pokemon, a Zapdos, one too strong to defeat ourselves, but easily within our reach when we were part of this crowd of Pokemon Goers at the mall.

As we were standing there, a few mall shoppers approached me—maybe because I looked approachable, or maybe because I was the only person not staring down at my phone and tapping a picture of a Pokemon.

“Is there something special happening here today?” one woman asked.

“Is there a sale?” asked another.

“Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

I explained that it was a Pokemon Go event, which somehow seemed to bring both clarity and confusion. That just added to the excitement of it all for Daniel and me—that not everyone knew what was happening—but we did.

Working with the other Pokemon Goers, Daniel won and caught the Zapdos and earned lots of points and extra virtual goodies. Then we walked a little further through the mall and encountered yet another Pokemon Go raid and had fun all over again.

Trust me. It was a thrill—the cherry on the top of a terrific mother-son outing.

Two years into playing Pokemon Go, my sons and I may not be playing with the same enthusiasm we did when it started. But there’s still plenty of excitement there. And, as it turns out, we’re clearly not the only people still playing the game.

Just think of the fun we would have missed if I hadn’t forgotten my umbrella.

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

Rita Buettner is a wife, working mother and author of the Catholic Review's Open Window blog. She and her husband adopted their two sons from China, and Rita often writes about topics concerning adoption, family and faith.

Rita also writes The Domestic Church, a featured column in the Catholic Review. Her writing has been honored by the Catholic Press Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Associated Church Press.

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

The Beauty of Mass in the Gym

Exquisite pizza, the school year winding down, and a shopping day (7 Quick Takes)

In honoring anti-Catholic activists, L.A. Dodgers strike out

10 Easy ways to grow in your faith this summer

Question Corner: Are our intentions actually remembered at the shrines we donate to?

| Recent Local News |

CEO, authors, NFL coach take part in Catholic college commencements

Connect program centered on empathy, listening

RADIO INTERVIEW: How to grow in your openness to the Holy Spirit

Archbishop Lori announces eight appointments

Archbishop Lori ordains six to transitional diaconate

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Dioceses wake up to youth mental health crisis, helping parents, teachers and pastors take action
  • The Beauty of Mass in the Gym
  • Exquisite pizza, the school year winding down, and a shopping day (7 Quick Takes)
  • Experts hail U.S. surgeon general’s social media warning for youth mental health
  • As COVID’s emergency phase ends, Catholic experts share takeaways for the church
  • Missionary of mercy priest: ‘Be Christ to all people’ in a world ‘hungry for the Word’
  • Florida Catholic wife, mom, doctor involved in sainthood causes says Eucharist is central to all she does
  • Nun’s incorruptible remains highlight rich heritage of Black Catholics in U.S., say experts
  • Under surveillance, government pressure, China needs prayers, observers say

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED