March 30, 2007
Gather round the table!
Dad deals to me, my home, circa 1973
Some of my happiest memories of gowing up center around a game table. A couple of times a month we’d all gather round and spend an evening playing cards or board games. I was pretty good at most of the card games back then, though I’m a little rusty now. We played hearts and spades and gin, but poker games were everyone’s favorites. I remember how proud I was the first time I played for a whole session without having to look up what constitued the various hands. Mom was a pretty good teacher, but we always kept Hoyle’s nearby to settle disputes. There was an occasional sore loser (older bother Eddie!) but it was mostly just a fun and relaxing way to spend an evening as a family. My parents and their friends gathered for regular game nights, too, at our own home or someone else’s. We kids would play outside until we were exhausted, then come inside to play our own games.
Mom and my friend Anne at one of my game nights
I’ve hosted a few such nights in my own time, bringing several generations together for a fun and sociable evening. My son rarely joined us because he wasn’t into card games as a child. The only game I remember him playing with any regularity is Skip-Bo. That’s why it was so surprising when he not only went to work for a casino, but also started playing in Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments and got pretty good at it. I never would have predicted a career in gaming for him! Now he and his girlfriend have a circle of friends with whom they get together for games on a regular basis.
I mentioned a few days ago that my family is into gag gifts for Christmas and birthdays. That’s why I almost always try to remember to slip a deck or two of cards into my son’s Christmas package, for the girlfriend to put into his stocking. I mean, for pity’s sake, he works in a casino and can get all the cards he wants from the discards, but that’s my little poke at him and always makes him grin. I looked at gaming tables for him last Christmas, but had to pass on them at that time. He would love such a gift, but would never buy one for himself. So maybe, just maybe, the next time gift-giving rolls around, I’ll take a look at some home game packages for him. He’s a one-game man when it comes to poker, and this Texas Hold ‘Em Package would fill the empty space in his bachelor-ish living room nicely, and it would certainly get a lot of use. Have I mentioned lately that he’s due for a visit soon? Having a game set-up in my own home would be worth it just for the look on his face when he walks in! He has promised he’ll teach me Texas Hold ‘Em this trip, but wouldn’t he be surprised to see how seriously I took him? Executive Gaming Monthly sponsored this post with perfect timing!
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March 31st, 2007 at 3:33 pm, hyphen8 Says:
This week we had the house of the dead computers for a while. So we played Scrabble one night and started a jigsaw puzzle!
March 31st, 2007 at 4:42 pm, skeet Says:
Heh! The furkids don’t spell well, so I don’t get to play Scrabble unless the boy is here for a visit. I noticed last visit, though, that he seemed to be tolerating rather than enjoying, so I guess we’ll just play Texas Hold ‘Em this time out.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:53 am, Whim Says:
He he he! Cards for someone who works in a casino. I love it! Skeet you have a wicked sense of humor.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:53 pm, hyphen8 Says:
I’ve been seeing a commercial for some kind of online “Scrabble Cubes” game - maybe you should check it out.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:38 pm, skeet Says:
Whim, I’m pure evil. Surely you figured that out, lol! ;0)
8, I have tons of games. They’re a social activity to me and I rarely drag them out for solitary play.