I grew up in a family that enjoyed spending time together. We hiked, we fished, we watched movies sharing a big bowl of popcorn, but something I always enjoyed doing is playing board games, and this has stuck with me.
We had dozens. Moolah, Sorry, Scrabble, Monopoly of course. When I was quite small I have fond memories of many victories. Playing with my younger brother was always a breeze. Before I was old enough to take pity on him, our three-year age difference normally gave me an easy win. And parents, well, I’m sure they’re obligated to let their children win about 85 per cent of the time.
Then I began to grow up, and the cruel harsh reality of board games began to show itself.
Though board games can be a fun activity enjoyed by all, there are some that should be avoided if blood, sweat and tears are not the desired outcome.
Scrabble is a game I’ve found many have a love/hate relationship with. You feel good, playing something so simple yet educational and sophisticated. That is, until you realize you’re up against someone who has a much wider vocabulary than you. Who is consistently playing six letter words on triple word score squares while you play words like cat and toot.
Someone is getting a tile in the eye.
Monopoly, however, is the prime example. Always starting off friendly, fun, lighthearted...
But for those of you who have actually played Monopoly, you know what lurks beyond those first 25 minutes of peace. You know it has ended friendships. Marriages even.
The further you go into the game, the more invested in properties and schemes you become, the greater the chance the game spirals into a cutthroat competition where any turn can push you to your breaking point. Dice are tossed with hatred and game pieces are moved with fear. That genuine smile becomes increasingly fake.
We’ve all been there. That moment when you are down to your last few dollars, you’re on the homestretch, all you need to do is pass GO and collect that beautiful $200...but instead of rolling a six you roll a five, landing you on a broke Monopoly player’s worst nightmare: Boardwalk. And it’s just your luck there’s a big fat hotel sitting there too.
That person who you could once call a friend is now responsible for your bankruptcy.
It’s just a game though, right? Your beaten down pride will eventually nurse itself back to health…In the meantime you shove the game in the back of the coat closet where it belongs.
I haven’t played Monopoly in years. Partly because I don’t own it, but partly because that game is a gamble with your short term happiness. I value my mental health.
I did however recently delve into a battle for world domination. I bravely threw myself into the midst of a dangerous duel. There was strategy and there was attack. Many of my men were lost in a brutal battle of carnage in my fight for survival and victory and…
OK, that possibly sounds a lot more exciting than it actually was. The truth is, at the ripe old age of 23, I stayed in on Friday and Saturday night to play Risk. Usually I begin to feel guilt in my success, and my pity in turn is the reason for my demise. This time was different.
I played with great skill, outnumbering and successfully defeating my enemies. In other words I conquered the world. It only took me about five hours to do it and my friends only hated me until the next morning.
Saturday night I was not so lucky. My opponents came back with a vengeance, their fury unleashed with no mercy, me as the target. Needless to say I didn’t fare so well.
And so my friendships survived and I am confident I will live to play another day. Then again, there has been talk of Monopoly…
