Page 58 - Emag_AugSept2019

I Love Games

by Susan J. Decuir
ho doesn’t like to sit around the table playing a fun,
friendly board game or a lively game of hearts or
Wspades with family and friends? grateful for that. But I still missed
As far back as I can remember, the 1950s to be exact, my dad, my games.
a big kid a heart, patiently taught my two brothers and me how Thankfully, the dislike for playing games genetic defect skipped
to play card games, cribbage, checkers, and chess. In fact, we a generation when our daughter
learned so well that before long we were came along. Sarah loved to play
beating him. But that was the goal, wasn’t games as much as I did. Then,
it? Other times Dad would entertain us somehow, that sweet little girl
with his many clever card tricks. coaxed her daddy into playing
When the vast Texas sky was temperature Connect Four. And he actually
tolerable, my girlfriends and I would sit enjoyed it. Miracles still happen.
outside on the warm sidewalk in front Sarah grew up and got married,
of one of our homes in our suburban and along came three little ones
neighborhood in north Dallas playing who call me Nana: Evan, Emma,
rollicking rounds of Clue, Scrabble, or and Ava, now thirteen, eleven,
solitaire. An entire afternoon passed and six. I was determined that
quicker than a sudden Texas spring shower these three would grow up with a
while we were having the time of our lives. love for playing games. As soon
Those times were some of my best as each one was able to sit up on
childhood memories. So, naturally, I their own, use their hands, and
assumed that everyone loved to play could follow instructions, we sat
games. on the floor and played games.
Well, on a quiet evening—soon after my Not only have I experienced the
husband, Ron, and I married in 1979—I joy of playing games with my grandchildren, but playing games
suggested that we play a game, since I had a closet full of them. like UNO helped them learn their colors and numbers. And in
Ron looked at me as though I were a stranger. Scrunching that the process, they learned how to follow rules, to play fairly, and
serious brow of his, he said, matter-of-factly, “I don’t play about taking turns—gracefully. And what a blessing it has been
games.” to pass on my happy childhood memories to my grandchildren
“You don’t play games! Why, that’s un-American. How as we put aside 21st Century electronic devices and enjoy each
could you not like to play games?” I was incredulous. It never other’s company the old-fashioned, wholesome fun way like we
occurred to me to ask him before we married if he liked to play did before computers invaded our homes.
games.
As it turned out, my peace loving, godly husband came from a
family that apparently took fun, friendly games too seriously—
arguing over rules, accusing each other of cheating, or short-
tempered aunts, uncles, or cousins who couldn’t take the
pressure when the game wasn’t going in their favor.
My mother-in-law, however, loved to play games. But, like
her son, her husband didn’t play games either. Nor did Ron’s
sister. Actually, most of his family didn’t like to play games.
Obviously, everyone except for my mother-in-law, had inherited
a mutant gene that repelled them from playing games since it
obviously was not connected to any religious conviction.
Dear Lord, how could this be?
Then the Lord reminded me of all the things that Ron loved to
do and could do that I didn’t like to do or couldn’t do. Things
like fixing our cars, performing plumbing and electrical repairs,
the yard work, gardening—a true jack-of-all-trades. I gave him
a little slack on the game playing after that revelation, feeling
blessed to have my own live-in handyman, and I am truly

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