The Games People Play

Joe South had a smash hit in 1969 called “The Games People Play” which was a dark commentary on life indicating the poor treatment of each other.  Fortunately, this blog will be far from those depressing thoughts with the only similarity being its title.  The games people play will be the family, fun stuff that we all engaged in during our youth or perhaps even now.

In a former blog, I discussed playground equipment ranging from the ball busting see-saw to the monstrous monkey bars.  But here, we will reminisce about board games which were much less dangerous unless the loser threw a tantrum endangering all of us around him/her.

I can’t help but laugh aloud when I think of the game “Uncle Wiggily.” Do you remember this one?  Based on a children’s book series, the game is a race to go from Uncle Wiggily’s bungalow to Dr. Possum’s house with a variety of troubles or advantages along the way. Uncle Wiggly was an old rabbit, by the way. (Did you click that link? They’re still making the game so you can play again with your grandkids!)

Although it often led to some contentious behavior, “Sorry” was one of my favorite games.  Just by its very name, we realized something bad could occur like snatching the ecstasy of imminent victory and condemning the participant to ignominious defeat.  Of all the board games we played, this one was most competitive, and I loved it . . . unless I lost.  Perhaps you could categorize me as a sore loser.

“Parcheesi”! Does anyone know what that word means? The game dates to India around 500A.D. and is based on the Indian circle and cross.  Back then, the royalty would play it “live” with members of the harem being dressed in different colored outfits who would move on a large board dependent on the throw of the dice. I bet the popularity of this game would improve if we could play it this way today. Right, guys?

Certainly, the standards were also played: Monopoly, Clue, and card games like 500 Rummy.  These games took a lot longer, so dependent on the players’ attention span was not played as often as many others were.

In conclusion, the good thing about a board and card game were that no one ever got injured. Well, possibly a few feelings and egos were damaged. Ah, the games people play.