Lets Play a Game

I have no memory of being very fond of dolls when I was a girl. Their vacant eyes kind of creeped me out. I’m sure I played with baby dolls when I was a toddler, I just don’t remember. I know I played with Barbie dolls when I was older because my friends liked them. Some of my friends had dozens of outfits and accessories, but I could never understand spending all that money on a toy, and I couldn’t immerse myself in pretend play with the dolls like they could. I had a vivid imagination, but I didn’t use it on plastic dolls that couldn’t do anything but pose.

I was between 2 and 3 years old when my dad got me a puppy. She was the cutest little thing and we bonded immediately. She was a mixed breed dog, with some collie and cocker spaniel in there somewhere, and everyone loved the show “Lassie” so, of course, I named her Lassie.

Lassie was my playmate and best friend. I had other friends in the neighborhood, and my little sister, but she was my partner in crime. She learned how to open the gate and she would break me out of the fenced in back yard when I was barely older than a toddler and she and I would go exploring. I got in so much trouble, but continued to get out and wander the neighborhoods regularly. I can’t say I didn’t come to any harm, but that is a story for another time, maybe never. Anyway, Lassie wasn’t a toy, but I played with her every day.

When I started elementary school, my family moved out to the country. We had no neighbors and were isolated. It was about a year later that my uncle moved his family a half mile down the road from us, and then I had cousins to play with. I loved my cousins. I had two girl cousins, one my age and one a year older. We played together as much as we could, weather and school permitting. My cousins loved to play games, and we had so much fun together.

The toys I grew up on and played with the most were games. I loved games. We would play Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess, Checkers, card games, Barrel of Monkeys, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, and, my favorites, the Game of Life and Clue. Later there came Mystery Date and Twister. I know there were more, but I can’t remember them all.

I remember how much I loved the Game of Life. I couldn’t wait to see what my life would be like. What career I would have, if I would be married and have children. I could play that game twice in a row, while everyone moaned and begged to do something else. My favorite toys were games. I enjoy games even now, and our family plays games when we get together, especially card games.

This is in response to Esther Chilton’s Writing Prompt this week, the prompt being

TOYS

Writing Prompts