THE GAME OF LIFE

THE GAME OF LIFE

A post Thanksgiving look back on life.

When I was a kid, we use to play a board game, “The Game of Life.”  I don’t remember much about how it was played, I do remember the basics.

Before the game you chose what your goals were.  You could win so many points for wealth, fame or happiness.  As young snots, most of the time we all chose money to win, with a small percentage of our goal being fame.  I guess we sort of assumed that with money and fame, happiness would follow.

I am currently in the fourth quarter of the real game of life.  If my goal was riches, I lose.  If my goal was fame, I lose big time.  In the real game, my goal was mostly happiness.  It takes some degree of wealth to obtain security and happiness, but wealth was never a primary goal.

It is not yet time to tally the score, but I think I have done pretty well.  I know many people who succeeded very well in the wealth category, but I’m not sure they are all that happy.  I know or know of many who have topped the chart in the fame category who seem to be pretty miserable. 

I also know some people who have kicked ass in both wealth and fame and I have to say are damn happy, so I have not and probably will not win the game. 

You would think that with two divorces I would be pretty low in the wealth and happiness score, and fame is just about zero, but though the divorces cut my wealth points in half twice, I have managed enough to secure some semblance of security, and that is really all you need to not have a deduction in the happiness points.  The divorces have also bailed me out of unhappy relationships, even relationships that I was not aware of how unhappy they really were.

In adding up points, I can’t compete with everyone, there are so many people that are successful on many levels, but I think I have still done pretty well.

I am reasonably healthy.  I can still do one pushup for every year I have managed to stay above ground.   I currently have a great relationship on many levels with Mrs. Cranky.  I can still score under 100 in golf, and bowl above a 180 average.  I have self-published two crappy books, but I enjoyed doing so.  I publish in this blog daily, and that earns me ½ a fame point.  I have four children who are healthy and reasonably happy and successful themselves. I have five happy healthy wonderful grandchildren.  I have a great family in my brother, sister-in-laws, niece, nephews and a bunch of cousins.  I have a few friends who are true friends.  I was blessed with terrific parents, grandparents, a super older brother and wonderful aunts and uncles who are no longer with me.  

I quit drinking and smoking, but do enjoy an occasional glass of wine and a good cigar.  I play guitar just well enough to enjoy it in the privacy of my own man cave.  I even have two step children that I get to enjoy and take pride in, even though I can claim no credit for their accomplishments.

In the Milton Bradley “Game of Life” I have not reached my unreasonable goals of fame and wealth, but in the real game, so far, despite many setbacks, I think I have played pretty well and have obtained a great many  points. 

Of course having the dice come up with good numbers helps.