Houston's Biggest Pokemon Go Event

& how it saved my relationship. It's 3 am and I can't sleep, nor stop smiling.

At 6:30 Friday, the Houston Pokemon Go group planned to host a "PokeRaid" at one of Houston's largest parks, Hermann Park, located south of Downtown. I was looking forward to this for a long time, since the app came out last week, and so did my friends.

However, at the same time I was dealing with a relationship struggle with Roy, my current boyfriend. For the past few weeks he and I have been bickering at each other so much to the point that I was actually thinking of calling it quits on our relationship. People were thinking that it was my medication that was causing my mood to deteriorate (yay birth control!), but it hasn't been fully examined by my doctor yet.

I arrived a little after 6:30 after dealing with parking and traffic on the 59. I managed to get a good spot not too far from the park, which allows me for less walking from my car to the park. My friends were all scattered around, so I don't think I would find them anytime soon. The park was absolutely crowded. Like, there are not hundreds...THOUSANDS...I'm sure it's close to a million. I first met up with a lady around the same age as me, trying to catch a Venonat. She was still in her nursing clothes, as if she just came out of work (probably at a hospital, Hermann Park is located next to the Texas Medical Center). We briefly chatted about Pokemon, and supported each other in our latest catches, as there was a Lure Module going around us.

So, I then continued on to the park, and spotted a man who is way older than me, who was probably looking for a certain Pokemon on his radar. He stopped to ask me if there were any Pikachus around. I told him that I spotted a few at the Houston Zoo (which is not that far away either), and that he would have more luck there. He was trying to find a Pikachu for a long while because he was trying to evolve one into a Raichu (hey, same goals!). He didn't want to go too far, as he was exercising at the same time as well. He responded with an "oh well", and proceeded to asking me how many Pokemon I had caught. Told him I got 59 including a few duplicates. Then he changed the subject a little, he began to notice that my voice was toned down and he noticed my walking was "wimpy". Of course, I was feeling down. I was expecting Roy to not make it to the event, as I felt like he was making excuses not to show up. He gave me some "real words". I told him about what was going on between me and Roy, and he noticed that there was some "imbalance" between us. Relationships are a "team" thing, not a one person thing. That was something I had to understand. And, I had to encourage more communication. My "silent treatments" I've been giving Roy actually do make things a hell lot worse than ever. But then again, it's hereditary for me.

I thanked the man for his kind words and advice, and proceeded to the center of Hermann Park, where the real party was beginning.

So many groups were forming. Valor, Mystic, and Instinct. I didn't want to get too involved. Even though I'm Team Mystic, I didn't want to get into the whole bickering and all that...so I stood back and began catching a chock full of Eevees that were around the area.

Here's a couple videos that I posted on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/AxeliiraSparkle/videos/10210305035768117/?l=535203992388156026

https://www.facebook.com/AxeliiraSparkle/videos/10210305143330806/?l=3898037157374604929

Roy began to call me, while I was catching a Psyduck. He said he was giving up on parking and decided to head on home. I was extremely pissed. I WANTED to see him again, and yet he decides to make up yet another excuse. I flat out told him "if you don't want to come, fine. Don't come. I'll be fine. Bye." It was really pissing me off at the time, and I then continued to hunt for more Eevees.

Then he called me again 5 minutes later. "Welp, I found a parking spot." WELL GOODY, my mind yelled. Instead of me being happy, I was still pissed off. I ended up hanging up the phone again and continued hunting down. 30 minutes later, after his raging "WHERE ARE YOU" texts, we finally met up at the reflecting pool. Instead of "Hi sweetie, how are you *kiss*" it was "WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU? YOU SAID THE MEMORIAL, NOT THE POOL." It was an emotional bomb about to go off in an instant. I kept my cool, though, then he proceeded to hug me...because he knows that I've been having a rough week. I didn't want to cause any drama in front of thousands of people. Instead of just talking it out, we proceeded to do what we originally came for: to hunt for Pokemon.

There were a herd of Ponytas around, and Rattatas spawning around, even when using an Incense. Lures all around. People shouting for a certain rare Pokemon that would force us to walk around. There were rumors that a Snorlax was roaming around. Or a Gyarados at the lake. Even though we could not swim at the lake, it was still easy for people to catch the water types out there, like Horsea and Poliwag. There was also a Lickitung nearby as Roy and I walked around. But it decided to run away from me. It was one of the ones that got away from me. Ponyta and Eevee were my only two that I was close to evolving. I named my Eevee "Iris", and Ponyta "Rarity". My highest leveled Pokemon was a Slowbro, named "Drysdale".

What's best about Hermann Park was the mass amount of Pokestops. I was able to get a ton of Pokeballs and berries.

But then, you know what I realized now that I'm with Roy? The power of Pokemon was beginning to make me feel relaxed now. I was starting to push the whole power struggle out of the way and my mind felt calmer. We were both helping each other out with our Pokemon catching, as well as heading to all of the Pokestops that we could find. Thanks to me, I was able to help him catch his first Eevee, as he was unable to do so in the past. He wanted an Eevee so he can evolve one to Vaporeon, his favorite Eeveelution. One of the Pokestops we hit up was a "Splashtown", with fountains and waterspouts all around. It was getting humid and sweaty, so I told Roy that I would hit up the fountain and get myself wet to cool off. He said "okay", and I proceeded to do so. I cooled off with one of the bigger fountains, but I was leaving Roy out of the whole thing. I told him to leave his phone down, and told him to join me. He didn't want to, but I was beginning to feel sad. Then he smiled and said "okay."

So, we both got wet at the bigger fountain, and we gazed at each other's eyes. It was beginning to feel like the first time we started dating. That time at the movie theatre, where we kissed during the credits, and we made out at the big fountain in front of it. My heart was racing quick, as we were getting soaked. It didn't matter at all. People were walking past us and not judging us that we were standing at the fountains getting ourselves wet. We suddenly...opened our hearts to each other. That's EXACTLY what I needed. Opening my heart to him (while getting soaked at a fountain) was the thing. I told him that we were seriously lacking communication and emotional intimacy. He felt the same way. But this was due to the fact that we were so constantly busy with things (me with my stupid IT job, especially...and his family issues that were arising). We needed time just for ourselves. We needed to talk about "us". Even though we live an hour apart, it doesn't stop us at all. We just gotta work it. In the end...we kissed, just like that time we first started dating. My power struggle was finally over.

The next couple of hours, we spent hatching eggs, evolving Pokemon, and following herds of people in hopes of catching a rare Pokemon. Sadly we could not find a Snorlax, nor a Gyarados. It was getting late for him, and he had to go back to Galveston to see his mom again. I found the group of friends that I was hoping to see, but I was going to hit them up as soon as I dropped Roy off at his parking spot. Of course...we actually did spent a bit of lone time together before he left...which was something we also needed. Afterwards, I headed back to the park to meet up with my group.

Today seriously changed me. More like...the power of Pokemon pretty much saved my relationship. I met countless strangers that were super friendly to the point that I really wish they were my actual friends. You know? It actually reminds me of a real life version of PokeCommunity in a way. Only except...this is different. I don't know anyone else in Houston that is on here. That pastor I mentioned before, his advice moved me. I really hope he caught the Pikachu he wanted, and evolved a Raichu. Pokemon Go really allowed me to be myself in the real world, and meet people I never thought of meeting. I didn't want the day to end. However, there will be more days similar to this. Now that my power struggle is overwith (for now, it looks like), I can feel the positivity in my body once again. <3