I've often wondered about how we learn. What, in fact, shapes the people we are? How do we develop our personalities, or quirks, our pet-peeves, or values? Our ideas of self worth? Of integrity? Of deviance? Of course, these questions can't be answered. Not, at least, on a group or cultural level. We – individuals in a society – learn from any combination of social interactions, media influence, parental/family nurturing, experiences and inherent biological influences. But how these mix of things actually come out in the blender of life and influence the "individual" – you or I, even my sister or I – is completely unique. Take conjoined twins, for example. Every experience (in the basic concept of experience that is) is the same. How is it then that they develop into two unique individuals?

I can't answer any of these questions. I really don't have any desire to do so. That doesn't stop me for enjoying asking them, exploring them, and perhaps even learning from them. I do have a strong – unstoppable desire – for self examination. Why do I have (I hate to use the word "suffer") OCD? Why do have almost no memory capacity? Why am I the person that I am? How did I get here? Not "here," sitting at my laptop at four in the morning, in the home that I share with my affluent boyfriend, with my ginorous Mastiff puppy at my feet, with my fat cat oozing his dominance all over my desk. How did I get here? How did I become the person I am today?

I've been exploring this question for as long as I can remember (which is about five days – the approximate time that my detailed memory capacity extends). And finally – yes – here it is – an epiphany !

All I really need to know I learned in the Dungeon.

I was discussing this revelation with my dear friend Patty, who is often the victim of my random rants and explorations of the human condition, while we were out shopping the other day. We were at a Joann's Fabric and craft store on the opposite side of town. The good stores are always on the other side of town. Now, what you might ask are two Dungeon go'ers doing at Joann's? Apparently, the cashier (a recently published and extremely geeky comic book writer wondered the same thing.

"Really?" he questioned, overhearing our conversation, "you learned everything you need to know playing D&D?"

D&D? What the hell is D&D? Ahhhh, the thought suddenly washed over me, Dungeons and Dragons.

"Ah, not so much," I grinned digging in my purse trying to find my coupon for forty percent off of my scrapbooking purchase. "A dungeon. You know crack!" I handed him my coupon simulating the not so delicate motion of Indiana Jones throwing a wet whip.

"Ah," he echoed turning toward the register to complete my purchase.

We quickly gathered up our purchases, all the while trying not to giggle (too loudly) and hustled out into the parking lot. Once there, Patty echoed the cashier's question, "Really," sly giggle, "what did exactly learn in the dungeon?" Pause. "in addition to making cashier's blush."

"I learned how to be a better me."