Do you remember back in the day when you would go to a sitter or the sitter would come to your house so that your parents could go play cards with the neighbors? I ask this with the thought that quite a few of you will say yes but a bigger majority wont have a clue. I could be completely wrong and I do hope that I am but I’m going to have to say that I seriously doubt it.
We have lost “game night”, the night when the adults would get together, have dinner, maybe a couple of drinks and then sit down to a few good rounds of cards. Games like pinochle (my parents game of choice with my adult cousins), cribbage, spades, hearts and canasta just to name a few, were the distraction of choice for the evening. For them it was a chance to get away from it all, have a bit of healthy competition and a chance to forget about their stresses and just enjoy the challenge to be the victor.
I had and Aunt & Uncle who played cribbage every morning over their cup of coffee after they had both retired. This was so amazing to me and I wanted to be like them when I grew up. I just watched in fascination as they would just keep on playing no matter who came into the kitchen. They would laugh, chat, drink coffee and trounce each other on the board and come out loving each other as much as when they had started. Oh what an ideal to live up to.
I love games, all types of games, board games (with a few exceptions), card games, dice games, word games you name it and I would try it. Growing up we didn’t have a large collection of games but those we did have such as Yahtzee, Boggle, and checkers were played quite often. We always had decks of Uno and playing cards and if no one wanted to play with you there was always solitaire. We learned many different solitaire games which meant you weren’t bored.
Have we lost this incredible past time that would allow a more intimate gathering where you could be entertained without the cost and worry of a night on the town? Do people play games anymore? Or are we so caught up in the rush, rush, rush that is the daily grind that we no longer afford ourselves these simple pleasures. Are fun nights out only okay if you are at a bar or some such event? When did we lose game night? It seems that unless it is a game on your electronic devise it just isn’t worth the time or is it that the electronic devise allows you to play a game without having to be emotionally or mentally present. You don’t need to interact with your partner across the table, no side talk, no connectedness required.
My second husband (yes, I’ve had more than one) loved games and we played all the time. He taught me cribbage and spades for which I am forever grateful. We would have game nights with other couples which was always a wonderful night out. We looked forward to these nights of dinner and cards. Conversations were never boring and allowed each of us to mentally let go of all the outside chatter that could consume our days. We just enjoyed being with friends or relatives, eating good food, and enjoying a few challenging games of whatever was up for that evening.
When our children came along we continued this tradition, on a family scale. We played games with our boys a lot. We would always have a family present under the Christmas tree that they knew was the new game we would be playing that night. Bring on the cousins and what a ruckus. Such fun was had and such wonderful memories made. Why have we lost this wonderful pastime?
Over that last few years my partner and I began asking the people we interacted with on a regular basis if they enjoyed playing cards or board games? The answers all came back as resounding NO’s. We were looking for ways to get out of the house, have good interactions and maybe a bit of quality fun that didn’t require money. It has saddened me that we could not find more willing participants.
In my humble opinion I feel that games, whether card or board games, bring connectedness to people. They offer and informal, more intimate means of interacting. You don’t have to dress up, or spend money (unless it’s poker night), you can relax and let the stresses of the day/week go all while melding 120 because you were dealt the Big Wilds (canasta). There are no awkward lulls in conversation because it’s always someone’s turn.
Are we so afraid to interact on such an intimate level or has society driven these simple activities to the wayside to make way for selfies and the drive to live a life that you believe gives you that 15 seconds of fame. Games are not just for kids. If you look at the appropriate age range on most games they say up to adult.
We are blessed to have my niece and her husband not to far from us and they love game nights like we do. We are currently in a best 2 out of 3 challenge with Canasta. Once we settle this we will entertain either changing partners or changing games. Either way our game nights are some of my most favorite of the month.
Do you do game night or something similar? Leave me a comment as I would love to hear what your favorite game(s) is/are. I am always on the lookout for new and interesting games to try. What is your oldest game? What is your least favorite. Games bring fun and interaction, I look forward to hearing your favorites.
Until next time: Game On
M.o.M.
This post reminded me of my childhood, and warms my heart! There is a tradition of game nights among full time travelers. At campgrounds and RV rallies you will find groups that play Uno, or Mexican Train dominoes, or any of card deck games like gin rummy or hearts. Its an easy way for new folks to meet others, new tables form up as people arrive or depart to their next adventure. Game nights like this, jam sessions on porches, gathering around a campfire or fireplace with a beverage of choice for good conversation, they have declined, but not disappeared.
The following generations have developed their own interpretations online, with scheduled video game raids and group chats, and in text while viewing live stream video. It isn't the same as the older ways, faster paced, more adrenaline, larger groups, and I think there is something lost in not having that real-world, face to face interaction, but at least camaraderie is not being completely lost. It is simply taking new form.