Let the
Games Begin!
Sheila Bean
When I was a kid, our neighbours would drive around to look at the crops, then pop by our farm to kibitz and play hearts or another card game called“ Oh, Hell!” If there were just four of us, we would deal cards for whist( an older cousin of bridge).
Everyone knew the rules. All generations played together.
When my parents started wintering in Arizona, they learned a large-group rummy offshoot called“ May I,” and our entire family became hooked.
My daughter called a few months ago with shocking news:“ Mom! Kristin doesn’ t know how to play May I!” How could this happen to our family? Within the week, I’ d gathered nine relatives, including great-niece Kristin, for an evening of May I. Crisis averted.
Maybe during the holidays, your family digs out Monopoly, Risk, or Clue. My husband’ s family traditionally played a zippy card game called Ninety-Nine. A friend’ s family played Yahtzee on long car trips. Perhaps you look forward to Bananagrams in a hotel room or Crazy Eights by lantern light while camping.
Youngsters can melt into games with older folks. Everyone— age 8 or 88— can practice taking turns, winning and losing with dignity, general good sportsmanship, a little math( such as keeping score), reading of rules, and strategy. Plus, you get shared fun and relaxed snippets of conversation. Games help us all to stay sharp and connected. What’ s not to love?
For game ideas, you could try something that’ s new for the entire group, ask the grandkids for a simple group game, or stick with an old chestnut that requires zero equipment, such as charades.
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