Sunday night, rather than spend a feckless evening watching TV, we decided to crank up our marriage with some intimate play: Monopoly.
We can't remember the last time we played Monopoly, but my guess is at least thirty years ago. We reread the rules of a brand new game and found that that they had adjusted the money for inflation. We remembered getting two $50s and five $100s and now we only got one $50 and four $100s. The luxury tax used to be $75 and now it's $100. Just like life.
I was the banker, guileless and dimwitted. I confused my own money with the bank's. I was slow to make change. I told Tom, "You better watch me. I don't mean to make mistakes, but I do anyway."
Tom, on the other hand, moved the roadster around the board as if he did not see the separate squares, like certain young grandchildren. "I think you missed a square." We would recount and sure enough, he had missed a square.
We played by the rules and did not use the Free Parking as a jackpot.
We were the old people playing Monopoly. We decided never to play with anyone else but each other.
Even Steven.
When was the last time you played Monopoly?
I don't think I've played since we used to play it on my friend Nancy's front porch when I was a little girl in Edgemont. It took all afternoon. I liked LIFE better, actually. I used to name the peg people in my car.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter-in-law likes to play CLUE so I played that at Christmas this year. Board games are a nice diversion, aren't they?
A nice diversion unless you are required to play CANDYLAND with little kids. Then you should go stick your head in an oven and be done with it.
ReplyDeleteThis is romantic. Who won?
ReplyDeleteWe stopped playing Monopoly when my second son decided he needed to ruin every family home evening or family game night by clearing the table of the game, pieces,money and all. He is now grown but we prefer to play Settlers of Catan, Dominion or Ticket to Ride. When it's just the hubby and me we play Dutch Blitz or Bananagrams. My parents recently introduced our girls, who are in their teens and not huge game players, to Rummy -e- o and they have good sports to play with their parents and Grands. Another new fun one my oldest son is teaching us to play is Zombicide. It's kind of a team game, all the players against the Zombies who just like in the movies multiply rapidly.
ReplyDeleteJust the other Sunday, I played a long game of Monopoly with my 5-year-old. Pretty relaxing with no big brother or daddy getting impatient. And adorable to see his excitement at building hotels! We've got the new Mega edition (it was a gift) where, if you roll Mr. Monopoly on the third die, you get to buy two properties per turn. Makes it go fast and furious. Unless, of course, you're playing with a 5-year-old. . .
ReplyDeleteI was the youngest of five kids. I happily sat by the wayside with my stuffed animals (parallel play, I think they call it) while the other four played board games.
ReplyDeleteNow adults three-generations deep, we play Scrabble and Chess. Happily, the Monopoly board comes out at Christmas time, though, and it's a noisy affair. Again, I am happily a spectator.
The last time I played Monopoly I was a 12-year-old, playing a 4-year-old, and she mopped the floor with me. I told myself that I let her win, but it's not true. I was just super dumb at Monopoly.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember. Am I getting dementia?
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with Monopoly except I will say it's a game I don't enjoy playing! Maybe because I'm not good and can't ever win!
ReplyDeleteHowever - I don't know how I found your blog but I am a faithful reader and love your wit, honesty, family memories, etc. I lived in Minnesota for a long time and was able to be in a reading group that you had also been a member of. I miss it so much! I just wanted to say hi and let you know you have a faithful follower in Rexburg, ID. If you ever come again (I missed you the last time and am still pretty sad about that!) please let me know. I would drop everything to be in the audience! Also, my husband cheats when we play games, sometimes, and I am not a good sport! But I/we love to play board games!