In Pursuit of Trivia (And A Reconnect To My Family)

Our family leads a pretty docile life. Some would label it boring. I think it is just heavenly.

The twins arrive home by around 4:00 p.m., which is when Little Bug and I return from Grandma’s house. As Little Bug does her homework, I start supper and the twins ready the Trivial pursuit board. We then play, 2 teams, 1 floater (usually me), and as many questions as we can get through before suppertime.

I have always loved trivia. LOVED it. My problem was that no one would play any trivia games with me. Ever. I had over 10 different trivia games, including at least six different versions of Trivial Pursuit, but no one to play against. Enter CJ and TC, aka “the twins.”

The twins love Trivial Pursuit. Probably almost as much as I do. Within a few months, we had wiped out the versions I had, so I ordered a pack of twelve sets of cards off of ebay (TWELVE!!!) and we were back in business.

There is something cathartic about the routine of playing Trivial Pursuit as I prepare our supper. It exudes a feeling of comfort. Of safety. Of home.

We are all about evenly matched in our knowledge of all things trivia. We each have our strong categories (Science and Nature, here I come, woohoo!) and our not-so-strong categories (it is a miracle whenever I get a Sports question correct.)

We give hints with abandon. We debate what the correct answer might be. We each have our tells (everyone watches Little Bug read the answer, in hopes that she will sound out the word.) We have made up our own rules as to how and when a piece can be earned. The pure Trivial Pursuit players would be aghast. We think it is a lovely way to decompress from the day’s events.

One of the best features of playing Trivial Pursuit is that it brings us closer together. It is free to play. We are learning new facts, daily. It starts conversations that we otherwise would never have, (because seriously, how many times does the dollar amount of a double eagle coin come into conversational play? Answer: $20.) It bonds us together as a family.

While computers, video games, and television are all wonderful inventions, they must be used carefully. It is too easy to allow ourselves to each slip into an isolated world, all together, yet alone. Board games bring the family unit (whatever it may be) back together.

Perhaps Trivial Pursuit is not your cup of tea. Maybe you like Monopoly, cards, or Scrabble. If you have a hard time thinking of a game that you might want to play, think back to your childhood and start with your favorite game from that time of your life.

Borrow it from someone. Check it out of your library. Gift it to a friend . Dig it out of the basement or attic. Whatever the game, just give it a try.

With the crumbling of families on the rise, use game time to reconnect with your loved ones. Remind yourself what it is about them that you adore.

As Albert Einstein said, “Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!”

~Annie