Second Life Couple Have Real Life Baby, Name Him "Linden"
Washu and Damien in 2004; in real life with baby Linden, earlier this week
Meet baby Linden, above right, citizen of the United States and child of Second Life, born in the early hours of August 17, all of 9 pounds and 13 ounces, new son to a young British-American couple, famously known in Second Life as Damien Fate and Washu Zebrastripe. Among the very first members of SL (Washu's account goes back to 2002, shortly after which she became an early avatar fashion innovator), I wrote about their metaverse-driven courtship in 2004, which began virtually but moved fairly rapidly to real world meetings via international flights, and a marriage that moved Ms. Zebrastripe from the American Midwest to the UK, and together back again to the States.
This child will be raised in part from funds earned in Second Life's economy, because Washu and Damien have long made their real world living through SL, via their content creation and real world contracting assignments; currently, their main business is Loco Pocos, a collection of insanely adorable avatar creatures. (Want to help pay for young Linden's college fund? Buy a Loco Poco today.)
As you might have guessed by now, the baby's name is not coincidental. "The word Linden has a lot of meaning to Washu and I," Damien tells me. "Through Second Life we have found each other, our livelihoods and now our son. I couldn't think of a more appropriate name with such meaning for us." Photo courtesy Mr. Fate; Loco Pocos pic via locopocos.com/blog
Ooooooh, little Linden is so cute!
Congratulations to Mom and Dad. :)
Posted by: Sioban McMahon | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Lena Franciosa | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Can't remember... will the baby need to display a (tm), (c), or (r) ?
-ls/cm
Posted by: Crap Mariner | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Perhaps this one will have to wear an "inSL" tattoo somewhere about his person?
Posted by: Rich Desoto | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Congratulations.
Posted by: Bixyl Shuftan | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 02:01 PM
What incredibly wonderful news. Congratulations to you both from Garth and me...
Posted by: Pituca FairChang | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Congrats!
Posted by: Haney Armstrong | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 02:20 PM
Oh, congratulations!
Posted by: Osprey | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Congratulations! I only took my musical stage name from my SL avatar. This is a real little person and stuff. :)
Posted by: Zak Claxton | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Hey, congratulations to both of you... though you'll have to 18 years before he can join you in SL... :)
Posted by: Kabalyero | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Woot! All of Plurk is smiling for them. :)
So... is there a Linden Linden yet? They should reserve the name...
Posted by: Dale Innis | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Congrats, Damien and Washu!!!
Posted by: Bhodi Silverman | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 05:13 PM
'grats to Washu and Damien, and welcome to First Life, little Linden!
Posted by: Marianne McCann | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 05:51 PM
Wow, this is the kind of story I love to hear. Thanks for sharing it Hamlet!
Posted by: Troy McLuhan | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Congratulations to Damien and Washu and warm welcome to the young Linden !
Posted by: DD Ra | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Congratulations and best wishes to Washu, Damien and Linden! May the fun and goodwill that you've brought to the virtual world come back to you threefold in the real one.
Posted by: Arcadia Codesmith | Friday, August 21, 2009 at 06:30 AM
WOW! Such great news, and Linden is SOOO cute! So happy for you both! Take care of yourselves, and we'll see you soon!
Posted by: Chiana Meredith | Friday, August 21, 2009 at 06:45 AM
Reposted here: http://sl2rllove.blogspot.com/
And, that makes four SL 2 RL babies that I know of (kinda, but if anyone does know of more, PLEASE contact us on the website we're gathering data).
Thanks!
Posted by: RandoymRandt | Friday, August 28, 2009 at 09:04 PM