A ROLL OF THE DICE©
Birthdays at our house were always very special -- my father made sure
of it. He always had some crazy game he had dreamed up for us to play
as we "searched" for our gift.
To celebrate my mother's birthday
one year my father assembled us all in the family room. He produced a
one-foot square pillow (dice) and about twenty cards which he spread in
a meandering line on the floor, each card about 18 inches from the
next, similar to a pathway in which one might move their "piece" on a
game board.
The object . . . roll the dice, pace off the
appropriate number, reach down and pick up a card, read aloud what it
said, and then follow the directions to the best of your ability. Mom
rolled the dice for a four, paced off four cards on the floor, picked
up the fourth card which read: "Tennis anyone? Receive one dollar for
every time you are able to bounce a ball up in the air off a tennis
racket . . . sitting down."
Ever tried to bounce a ball on a
tennis racket while sitting down? Practically impossible but great fun
to watch! Mom earned about three dollars on that one.
She
continued to roll the dice, step off the cards, pick them up, read them
and even made a few dollars. Some of the tasks were extremely
inventive: "Call the dog. If she comes on the first call, win $10; the
second call, win $5; the third call $.50. How many glasses is the
dishwasher designed to accommodate?; how many steps on the stairway to
the second floor?; how many shoe boxes in your closet?" Money was
rewarded on a sliding scale based on how close Mom was to the correct
number.
When Mom got to the last card it read: "Go to your
room!" We all looked at each other and then raced up to the master
bedroom. Upon entering we saw the glow of two candles, a beautiful red
rose on my mother's pillow, and next to the rose a box containing a
pair of beautiful emerald earrings.
My father took my
mother's hand and said, "Honey, you are the greatest treasure in my
life. I rolled the dice thirteen years ago and I've been a winner ever
since. Happy Birthday."
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