Games People Play

Well, Monday's almost over. I had a “command performance” this afternoon at the Career Center. It was a nice day for a drive, I just don't do late afternoons very well! But I got the appointment over with for now – need to return in four weeks for a workshop. I will, I'm glad to do what's necessary to keep the unemployment coming in. But attending a workshop won't make any jobs appear on the horizon in our part of the state.

We stopped by Walmart before we headed home. Note to self: Do NOT go to Walmart on the afternoon before school starts. There were kids and parents still buying school supplies, still stocking up on clothes....and I ran into my cousin and her family buying food for lunches. It was slightly chaotic.

My cousin and I were chatting in the grocery aisle about playing games. It brought back memories of all the games played at our house when I was a kid. I've mentioned before that there was a period of time during my childhood that we didn't have a TV. On summer evenings, we would sit out in the yard and talk. Those were the times I learned about my parents' childhoods, and I especially heard the World War II Army stories.

But once the cooler weather arrived, we would spend evenings at the kitchen table, playing games. We played card games – Old Maid, Go Fish, Crazy 8's, Solitaire, Double Solitaire, Casino. I'm sure there were more, but we didn't get bored. We would just switch games.

We also had board games. Dad was always up for a good game of checkers. I remember one Christmas when I got one of those “54 Games Board”.......one box, multiple game boards and instructions, and 54 different games. That was our introduction to Parcheesi. We had countless games of that. And there was always Tiddlywinks. I killed at Tiddlywinks. Somehow, I guess my little fingers had the dexterity to really guide the game pieces to that center cup. Maybe it was the piano lessons.

Mom also taught me to play dominoes. She still enjoys a good game of that. Mom was always tougher to play games with than Dad was......from what I hear, she still is! Dad was a softie, and he was known to let me win. Not Mom. Mom's side of the family is where my kids and I get our competitive nature. She worked hard at raising me like a “normal” kid, not letting me get by with acting like an only child. (Yes, I AM an only child...but she didn't want me acting like one!)

I understand Mom's theory. I also understand that my Mom is the baby of her family and the only girl. So I always wondered in the back of my mind how much that played into those lessons from Mom on how I should learn how to lose graciously. Hmmmm.

Before I get myself into trouble – topic switch! I spent what seemed like a lot of my weekend catching up on my Week 2 classwork.......there were a lot of lectures (average length, about 18 minutes), about 54 pages of reading, and then an assignment. I kept reminding myself how much I enjoyed my day at the State Fair!

I finished up my assignment and got it emailed in early this afternoon. It's a good thing I got that far, because my next week's lectures and readings were posted around noon today! I'm sure glad I don't have a grade, raise, etc., depending on keeping up with this!

I'm ready for a quiet evening now – talk to you tomorrow!