The Importance of Playing Games

I’ve mentioned before how much I adore playing games. (Fun ones, not icky ones.) In fact, I have been known to play games all by myself because I couldn’t twist anyone’s arm hard enough to play with me.

I didn’t even let cancer stop me from this favorite pastime.

About a month ago, I made a phone call. “Hi, Jayson? This is Marie de Haan, Jonathan deHaan’s mother. He goes to school with your daughter, Jenna.”

“I know who you are. You’re the Squeak Lady.”

Maybe I should explain. During my daughter’s “going-away-to-Australia party” back on December 28, I had noticed that people were talking and seemed to be enjoying themselves, but the party needed some… well, some oomph. I got out a few decks of cards and asked if anyone wanted to learn how to play Squeak—a very fun, fast-paced game. The next thing I knew, cards were flying, people were screaming, and the party went on for hours. Jenna, particularly, seemed to take to it very well. She had taught it to her family later and apparently, they were now hopelessly addicted.
“Hm. I’m not sure I want to be known as the Squeak Lady,” I responded to Jayson. “I know I’m getting older and probably do squeak when I walk, but…. Ah, what the heck. I’m glad Jenna is enjoying the game so much.”

Two days after our conversation, I took a ferry to Orcas Island to watch Jonathan’s basketball game. Some of his fellow classmates and I played cards the whole way there and the whole way back. I was in heaven (as is evident by my goofy-looking face here in this picture).

I sometimes feel guilty when I’m playing games (and neglecting housework or some other lofty enterprise), but then I have to remind myself that playing games with others and getting to know them better is what makes the world go ’round.

I’m sure if someone was pressed on their deathbed about any regrets they might have had about their lifetime, that someone would never reply, “I should have cleaned more toilets.”

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