Indianz.Com > News > Clara Caufield: Bragging rights are like gold for the game-playing set
cribbage
A cribbage board. Photo: Mike
The Cribbage Gang
Monday, October 12, 2020
By Clara Caufield
Native Sun News Today Columnist
nativesunnews.today

One of the things that Americans (heck people world-wide) like to do for recreation is playing games, even if there is no money or loot involved, the “bragging rights” are like gold.

In America, there seems to be quite a generational difference when it comes to game playing. The younger generations (which for me is now just about everybody else) like to play games with machines, pitting themselves against every sort of electronic gadget in quest of a higher score. They can be spotted everywhere, noses buried in cell phones or glued onto tablets, from the very young even to the unwary office secretary who can sometimes be caught indulging in a computer-based solitary or free cell duel.

Not my generation – the older retired set. We like to play games with actual people, gaining the opportunity to chortle with glee or really rub it in when we make a spectacular hand or cunning play at cards, mahjong or dominos. Or to minimize it when we don’t.

I am blessed to be part of a cutthroat cribbage gang, where no holds are barred for the win. But, just in case some of them with fuzzier memories forget about those sweet victories, we keep a log charting the weekly wins and losses. And of course, the rapid pace of play can always be slowed to indulge in a cup of coffee, tea and the sweet dessert of the week, which the hostess is required to provide. That is a game of sorts in itself, trying to outdo one another with sugary concoctions, where the bragging rights are truly well earned.

During my childhood, (at least a zillion years ago), even the young people played games with other human beings, many of which we invented. Of course, during that ancient time, many of our families did not have TVs or other distractions, maybe just a radio or old record player. Computers hadn’t been invented yet.

Truth is, many of my set is still a little confused about how to operate the darn things, sometimes more challenging to us a game of personal wits and skill. It must take several young cyber geniuses to design those quick moving games of skill, so how can one slightly old person with slowing reflexes be expected to compete.

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Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com

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