// if the player touches the extra life object, it has not already been taken, and the player can move (not dead or victory)
    // then the player gets one additional life
    void OnTriggerEnter2D(Collider2D collider)
    {
        CharacterController2D characterController = collider.gameObject.GetComponent <CharacterController2D> ();

        if ((collider.tag == "Player") &&
            (taken == false) &&
            (characterController != null) &&
            (characterController.playerCanMove == true))
        {
            // mark as taken so doesn't get taken multiple times
            taken = true;

            // do the extra life thing
            characterController.AddLife();

            // destroy the extra life gameobject
            DestroyObject(gameObject);
        }
    }