A Passion for Board Games

At a recent conference I attended, one of the presenters shared her passion for board games. This sparked a memory of my beloved sisters Margie, Jane and I. Rather than ignore, suppress or forget, a smile came to my face. Memories I thought were lost bubbled to the surface.

Growing up, my sisters and I spent time playing downstairs in the basement with the black and white linoleum floor. A closet housed the board games. I can envision the shelves packed with Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Operation, Mousetrap, and Twister to name a few. I believe Monopoly and Parcheesi were stored upstairs in the living room.

Mousetrap

My sisters and I played for hours setting up the intricate board of Mousetrap putting the sturdy plastic pieces into the designated holes of the card board base of the game. You then turned the handle and the mouse went through the maze up and down, a silver marble down a slide until the cap caught the mouse at the end. My memory so fragmented yet hearing the talk of board games sparked this special memory of three sisters persistently playing board games as young girls.

We played board games together as a family in the evenings or on weekends. Hours and hours playing Monopoly around the dining room table. A fight ensued  amongst the Lipson sisters on the chosen silver piece – the car or shoe before the game commenced. Somehow our parents refereed. One sister traditionally unhappy, a minute later the issue resolved until the next time when the repeat  fight happened.

Generations of Board Games

Today, some of the games remain on the shelf in my hall closet. A legacy passed down from generations. Games played with my daughters and hope to share with my grandchildren in remembrance of Margie and Jane.

After the conversation about board games, I did pull the games down, a bit dusty – the cover of Chutes and Ladders a bit tattered secured with masking tape, Sorry remained in mint condition, and the game of Careers long forgotten. A lone tear came out of my eye streamed down my face missing my cherished Margie and Jane. Margie’s Skipper doll in the yellow case all the outfits, tiny shoes, in prime shape in the closet on top of the board games. Memories of my beloved sisters Margie and Jane bittersweet.

Holding onto the items I am holding onto Margie and Jane, keeping them with me each and every day.

Board Games Spark Memories

Haunted by a comment made to me when Jane died stated that someday I would forget my sisters. An insensitive remark and clearly not true.  I am grateful for each spark of memory. Memories I thought lost. The more I talk about Margie and Jane, the ebb and flow of stories flow. Conversations about Margie and Jane I was unable to have for decades, I now relish. The board game sparked a vivid memory was a precious gift, one I had not be able to embrace until I was ready.

I will always remember Margie and Jane. They are my sisters. My sisters are part of my being, my past, my present, and my future. I understand today that I will not have total recall. It is not important. The photographs, the conversations, a comment spur some stories. In the end, the love and smiles shine through.

Purchase Judy Lipson’s book at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608082679/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Read more from Judy Lipson on Open to Hope: https://www.opentohope.com/selecting-songs-…honor-loved-ones/