Horrific, loathsome, heinous, execrable – a sufficient pejorative adjective does not exist to describe the COVID-19 virus, and it certainly has brought the world to its knees. Add the insufferably miserable spate of current weather to the gloomy cloud caused by the virus, and it’s difficult to find a bright spot anywhere.
Actually my 8-year-old granddaughter summed everything up quite well the other day. She was walking with her dad along a trail near the river, and they came to a small park that was roped off with yellow plastic tape because all public parks and playgrounds are closed. She saw that tape and said to her dad, “I hate being in this stupid virus!” Amen to that!
Her comment made me stop and try to think of anything positive about the stay-at-home mandate, and I actually came up with one. As horrible as it is, the virus has forced family’s to spend time together, and while this is a good thing, it does give rise to another problem – what to do all day. As I reflected upon this dilemma, I began thinking about the kind of games that are available these days compared to the ones we older folks played when we were youngsters.
Roll the Dice
Of course back then electronic games did not exist, and so we had to be content with various card games or board games. (Ask children of today if they like to play board games, and the may answer with a blank stare.) Of course when you think about it, the evolution of games is fascinating. It all started with a blip. Do you remember pong, where you just batted a floating blip back and forth across your TV screen?
Then came the handheld games like electronic football, which involved manipulating a flashing blip through defensive blips. The blips then morphed into actual figures, and the electronic football games today boast incredible graphics so that the players actually come to life on the screen. And if the amazing graphics aren’t enough, it’s now possible for children to play electronic games against each other from their own houses and neighborhoods. This shows you how far those little blips have come.
Today’s children seem to be born with an innate ability to play electronic games, and I can speak only for myself, but my fingers just don’t move quickly enough to master such games as Fortnite, Apex Legends. I must confess, however, that I did enjoy maneuvering a little hero named Link through a series of mazes in some of the Legend of Zelda games.
Now because we’re all still pretty well shuttered in (I don’t plan to leave the safety of my house for eight or 10 years.), here’s an idea that may remove some of the monotony for families. Let’s say your children grow tired of blasting each other to smithereens in outer space, and now they are looking for something else to do. Why not dig down in the room where you have stored “stuff” that you haven’t looked at in years and see whether you might find the game of Monopoly or Clue?
Monopoly, Anyone?
You probably have both of those games buried somewhere, and so dust off the Monopoly box, make a big bowl of popcorn, and sit down for an old-fashioned friendly game. (No fast fingers needed.) Just think of the fun you’ll have watching your children attempt to manage their money as you gleefully try to plunge them down into bankruptcy. And what fun you’ll have if you can build a hotel on Boardwalk and then ask them to fork over $2000 every time they land there. Be forewarned, however, that a good, competitive game of Monopoly may stretch well into the wee small hours of the morning.
When everyone tires of Monopoly, you can break out Clue, a game that turns the players into detectives attempting to solve a murder. You can introduce your children to the Clue characters – Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, Colonel Mustard, and Mrs. White. No need for fast fingers in this game either. Just put your brain to work and solve the crime before any of the other players. How your children will admire you when you triumphantly and correctly announce, “Colonel Mustard did it in the library with the candlestick.
Now if your kids don’t get caught up in the excitement of these games, don’t despair. At least you may have enjoyed some quality family time, and your kids’ fingers got a good rest.
Stay at home. Wash your hands often. Don’t touch your face. If you absolutely must go out in public, wear a mask. Practice social distancing.
BE WELL!
