Cure Boredom With A Board Game

Looking at the forecast, it looks like we might be seeing quite a bit of rain this weekend. If this is ruining your outdoor plans, grab the friends and family and get "board". In other words, rediscover the magic of board games.

Growing up, TV didn't dominate my life, and I was the kids who always had the old video game system when everyone else had the latest and greatest. When everyone else got computers, we got a word processor. Looking back, that's perfectly fine by me, as it meant may nights gathered around the table playing board games, with Disney Trivial Pursuit being one of my favorites. When we went to our family friends house, the parents stayed up all hours playing games, while the kids played else where and eventually went to bed. I was jealous and couldn't wait to get older and join them.

The love of board games might just be one of the reasons I married my wife too, as it's how I bonded with her family as we started dating. There we so many nights I couldn't wait to race over to her house to play Chicago in a box (a Chicago take on Monopoly). And last Christmas, what did I get her? I found an in-tact "Mall Madness" game on e-bay, her favorite game as a kid.

In college, we would co-ordinate "game nights" with as many friends as we could. Unfortunately, they'd fall apart as there grew to be more focus on drinking than the games as we all came "of age". Even on trips back home for the holidays, all the friends would come over and we'd play a game or two. I'll never forget the time my parents came home during "Would You Rather" as I was asked the question of who I'd save on a sinking ship: Mom or Girlfriend. I think my mom has since forgiven me. I think.

Even today, family gatherings often end with board games. When my parent's come to town, we always ask them to bring "Broadway", an OLD game similar to Monopoly, but with a certain ending. When it's a bigger group, we're playing "Chase the Ace" or "Left, Right, Center". With my in-laws, we can't wait to play "Tiles/Mexican Train" (dominoes). If my sister-in-law is in town, I may even challenge her to a game of Stratego.

My parents went as far as giving us an old game called "Enchanted Forest" as they started cleaning out their house. Meanwhile, as my wife and I cleaned out the garage the other weekend to prep for a garage sale, we kept the games off to the side, to start going through with my parents when they came to town next, as the kids are still a bit young for some of them.

So dust off those old games and start a new family tradition this weekend, especially if you're bogged down by the rain. Better yet, pile in the car and pick a new game together. Either way, Get Board!