Let the Games Begin!

We grew up playing cards and board games. With six kids in our family, someone was always game. My father taught us every poker and card game imaginable. We would sit around the kitchen table with him and a mayonnaise jar filled with pennies that were used and reused for placing bets. Five card Stud Poker - one-eyed jacks wild. Gin, Gin Rummy, Blackjack, Casino- you name it - we learned our card games - which seemed to have a language of their own. To this day I credit all of that special time together with my understanding of the concept of numbers and an ability for adding them quickly. Winning never seemed important but the time together surely did.

Each Christmas a board game found its way under our tree-not one for each of us-but one for all of us to play together. We started with “Chutes and Ladders’ and ‘Candyland’. ‘Trouble’ was one of my favorites. There was ‘Mousetrap’ and ‘Operation’ which always seemed a bit eye-catching. I remember one year receiving “The Green Ghost Game” that glowed in the dark-I actually still have it, and it looks like it brings in a pretty penny on eBay! I don’t think we ever really knew how to play it but it was fun to set up all of the pieces and watch it glow.

Of course, we played checkers, dominoes, ‘Backgammon’ Bingo- unfortunately, I never mastered chess. As we grew, we learned how to strategize with games that were a bit more sophisticated- ‘Stratego’, ‘Battleship’, ‘Monopoly’, ‘Scrabble’, ‘Life’, ‘Clue’-they were all part of our childhood.

To this day, at our large family gatherings, we often try to engage everyone in a game. We did play a lot of ‘Trivial Pursuit’ and ‘Pictionary’. Most recently ‘Scattergories’ has been a family favorite. If we are celebrating someone’s birthday, I make up charade sentences all about the celebrant’s life. Each of the clues is upbeat and positive and it has become just a fun trip down Memory Lane.

My niece comes up with some fun holiday games as well-such as how many gift bows can you gather with a spatula while blindfolded-it sure keeps the family laughing. I think I picked up four! We love our outdoor games as well-corn hole, volleyball, frisbee, badminton, Kadima. We try not to be too competitive and to keep the game fun. No one really ever cares who wins or loses-with the exception of my husband that is.

Now I believe my favorite game is ‘Rummikub’. We often play a lively round after dinner. No two rounds are ever the same and strategizing helps to keep this brain in working order.

Games have a way of bringing people together. Conversation is spurred when you’re sitting close and have an ulterior focus. They can be so much more engaging than starring forward watching just another series on Cable TV. We can take a break from our cell phones and our computers and truly BE with each other. The effort is often worth the reward-and the time together invaluable.

Games have added so much to our lives. What have been some of your favorites?