This post is part of a weekly series of ‘link-up’ Posts which reflect on life’s journey, old memories and family stories (see below for more info).
Yesterday I began the traditional pre-Christmas clear-out. You know, the one where you use stealth to remove the items which graced previous Christmas stockings but are no longer deemed fit for play, then take them under cover of darkness to the school for the PTA to re-package and sell back to you?
Anyway, as I rifled my way through the things we no longer need with ruthless efficiency, I came across this. It was rammed inside a plastic bag (bag circa 1987 by the looks of it), its insides spilling out into the once-protective-but-now-essential bag.
This was my mother’s Scrabble. It is the Scrabble board on which I learned the game. The board upon which my mother introduced me to her masterful word-play and grammatical dominance. The place where I came to understand the strategy of triple word scores and the biblical importance of the dictionary.
To me, this ridiculous shabby old box, replaceable in a heartbeat, signifies our Christmas break. Each passing year would bring the same ritual as the family collectively sat and gasped at Mum’s prowess with the English language; it was the same game but with each year’s reprise there would be fresh verbage in my growing vocabulary and with that came higher scores, until eventually I could hold my own against her magnificence.
I placed it in the charity bag with a nonchalant shrug. “I really should get rid of this old thing, ” I announced to my husband. He just gave me a look and said “OK, if you want to.”
Today I took it out of the bag, photographed it and cried. I think that must mean it’s a keeper. This Christmas I shall take on a new generation and wipe the floor with them *mwa ha ha*.
So, I want to hear from all of you. Was there a board game which featured heavily in your own family rituals as a child? Did it bring the family together, maybe once a year, or at holiday times? What are your memories of those board games and do you still have them in the family?
Share your memories by joining our weekly Link-up (new theme each week) with your own blog post, or simply by chatting in the comments section. Everyone is welcome for a dose of sweet nostalgia!
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More about the Life’s a Journey weekly memories series.
A selection of other posts from this series:-
Week 2 - Old School Portrait
Week 4 - Bestest Friends
Week 5 - Teenage Crushes
Week 6 - First Movie Memories
Week 9 - Favourite Childhood Books
Week 19 - Becoming a Parent
Week 25 - Old Boyfriends
Week 39 – My home town
Oh what fun!!! Chutes & Ladders, Sorry, Monopoly, LIFE, Trival Pursuit, Battleship, Connect 4, Backgammon, Checkers, Mystery Date, Twister, Payday, Operation, Candyland….
Wow, I’d forgotten about ‘Sorry’!!! “Sowwy Lawrence…” Thanks so much for stopping by
Pingback: Life’s A Journey – remembering traditional board games « Wendy's World·
Lovely post and memories. I would hang onto that Scrabble too…
I am linking with an older post, which mentions board games I played with friends as a teenager. xx
Brilliant, thanks!!!
Cards, draughts, chess, Monopoly and Grandad’s amazing magic tricks with coins and paper bags (remember them?) at Christmas. Granny’s trick was making the gin disappear
LOL. Morecambe and Wise coin and paper bag? I can almost see your grandad now!!!
That’s the one – fooled me every time. Thick or wot?