Welcome back, gamers! Please, have a seat at the table. In this week’s chat, I thought I’d go a little more into my story of board games and introduce you to some important players at my table. Chances are they will pop up in these blogs on a fairly regular basis, so I’d like for you to know who they are. Pull up a chair, grab a cookie, and let’s chat.
Let’s start with the title of my series. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I wanted to call these blogs. I went through several titles. Conversations with Kate but that seemed too simple. The Nerdy Momma because I am a nerdy momma, but I didn’t want everything to be seen from a mom’s perspective. After some discussion with Number One, I decided on A Place at the Table. There are a few reasons behind this. The main idea is that board gamers need a place to set up the board games, and I want to make sure that every gamer has a spot at the table to play. I’m also a mom and having a family meal around the kitchen table is something important to me. I do what I can to make sure that we all sit down and share a meal together as often as I can. Some weeks, that is every night. Other weeks (like during the holiday season when Number One is working a gazillion hours a week) it might only happen one evening. I’m also a hobby baker and my table is where I create all sorts of tasty treats to share with my friends and family. As you can see, the humble table holds a not insignificant place in my life. As such, I wanted to make sure that everyone who reads this has a place at the table. It doesn’t even have to be my table. I want you to feel confident to take YOUR place at whatever table you choose.
Board games have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even before I started actively playing them. I grew up an Army brat, and my parents didn’t have the largest income. Board games were a relatively cheap form of entertainment (after the initial investment of the game). I have vivid memories of my parents playing board games with their friends while all of us kids played Barbies or house or some other stereotypical “girl” activity that my friends and I convinced my little brother to do.
As I got older, board games fell by the wayside. I grew up and did whatever activity that I’d decided was adult like. There were some less than stellar decisions along the way (but who hasn’t made some of those).
Enter Number One, my husband. He’s the one who re-introduced me to board games. He came to my rescue one evening, and what did we do? He taught me how to play Settlers of Catan. And I won. I don’t think I’ve looked back since that point. That particular game of Catan has provided us with some inside jokes that will occasionally pop up in conversations. Number One is the most important player at my table, and he is the most experienced player at my table. So, whenever someone bests him at a game, there will be shouts of jubilation.
Next up is Janeway (I did warn you that I was a Trekkie). Janeway is 14 (and quite obviously not her real name, but it’s the internet, and she is 14, so I’m not going to blast her name all over the world wide web). Janeway is my oldest kidlet, but not the oldest of his, mine, and our situation going on at my table. She does play board games with us when she is with us. And during the summer, she attends board game nights with me and the other TCBGs. Her favorite games are Sheriff of Nottingham, Kittens in a Blender, and some other game that changes on a weekly basis.
Then we have Peep, so named because that’s what I called him when he was in utero. Peep is 4. He loves games, and he wants to play them with us. Unfortunately, he isn’t always old enough to understand the game. In those cases, he will tell us that he is a team with one of us. Peep and Number One play endless games of Candyland or Chutes and Ladders. It won’t be long before Peep is able to hold his own at our board game table.
Last, but certainly not least, is Stormageddon (again, I warned you). While she may be the youngest at 2, she lives up to her nickname. Ask anyone who spends even an hour at my house, and they will tell you who rules this roost. Stormie isn’t into board games just yet, but she wants the attention of everyone at the table. She is the reason behind one of our house rules for games. Whomever winds up on baby duty gets the baby points. The baby points are a 5 victory point bonus awarded at the end of the game. It’s a nice bonus that has worked out well for me in the past.
Our oldest, the Cheerleader, is 22 and no longer lives at home with us.
On any given Sunday, you can find me playing games with the Traverse City Board Gamers at a local brewery. More often than not, I’ll have cookies or a baked good of some kind. Sometimes, I’ll even bake board game themed cookies. Number One and I started playing games with TCBG 4ish years ago. I’ve learned a lot about board games with them. I’ve made some good friends along the way. We always have a good time. So, if you ever happen to be in the Traverse City area, stop on by and play a game with us. We’d be happy to have you. Until next time.