From time to time my husband and I have been known to indulge in our Scrabble addiction in public places — restaurants, coffee shops, hotel lobbies, park benches. Unlike conversing or reading a book in public, a Scrabble game seems to be everybody’s business, always calling to mind the old joke, “How do you contact civilization if stranded on a deserted island? Start playing solitaire, and soon someone will come along and instruct you to move that six on top of that seven over there.”
The same works for Scrabble. Countless passersby invariably stop to ask who’s winning. Any women present will root for me, while any men will roll their eyes in sympathy or find some other way to silently encourage my husband. (They rarely support him out loud lest they receive a sharp elbow in the stomach from their wives.) Without fail, some stickler will stop to inform us snootily that we are not to use the dictionary when playing Scrabble, that it’s against the rules. Another kinder, gentler meddler will give us hints which would earn half the points of the plays we end up using. We thank them all for their concern, smile politely, and go back to our game.
Despite our propensity for playing in public, we never break out the board at home. It simply never occurs to us, and even if it did there are far too many distractions.
And then this evening, the following note dropped into my lap. I looked up to see my husband waiting hopefully for a response. In a flashback to middle school, he had folded it into a cute little shape (then gave up and taped it closed when the folds wouldn’t hold).
Note: If you have trouble reading it, click the note for a closeup version.
I ask you, how could I say no? Game’s on in T minus seventeen minutes.
Now you know one of our obsessions. What do you do for fun?
Update: People are already asking, so here’s the lowdown. Hubby won, 445 to 334. He rocked the board with three bingos (words that use all the letters in the rack). Go hubbs!
That is too cute. I grew up in a house where we played Monopoly against Dad. No one ever won against Dad. No one knew how he cheated, but we knew he was cheating. No game was shorter than 2 hours. So I have very fond memories of board games.
And again that note is too cute.
my husband and i like playing board games and card games, but we usually only do when we’re having company over. we like hand & foot (nerts), as well as blockus and settlers of catan. one thing we do a lot of (just the two of us) is watch movies. 🙂
Book Girl, I’ve never heard of Remmy-Kube. Now I’m terribly curious and must look it up. Thanks for the inadvertent suggestion!
Melissa, I love that you played board games with your family growing up. I have fond memories of playing endless games of Clue and Euchre with my family over Christmas breaks in middle school and high school.
Emily, games are such a good excuse to have friends over, aren’t they? And we’ve lately developed a love for Blockus which, unfortunately, we don’t yet own.
I love games. Particularly Clue which I am very, very good at.
David is too competitive to play. He won’t indulge lest he punch someone in the face.
Everyone should know their limits, I guess.
That is so adorable. Love note passing.
OMG, so cute!
I am from a long line of Scrabble-obsessed women. When my mom visits (she usually stays a month), we can’t WAIT to get the kids to bed, then we look at each other and say, “Scrab?” (We shorten it! And make it a VERB!)
I’ve got my kids into Boggle. It has increased their vocabulary as they learn new words that I make.
I went through an obsession with RISK. And I am ALWAYS up for Poker. And I also love “Oh Sh*t” (a card game like Rummy, but you bet). Yahtzee.
And knitting. My primary obsession. People always ask what I am making when I am in public.
I love that he sent you a note. You should keep him I think.
We love to play board games and like Erica I’m a knitter too.
Love the cute note!
My friend and I are into ice-cube curling. Honestly, it takes skill!
That note is too cute. 🙂
Your hubby sounds completely adorable! My dh & I play scrabble from time to time. We keep a tally of who wins on the inside of the box. It actually goes back several years. In case you’re curious, I’m in the lead!! It’s quite another story with Battleship though. I don’t know how I continue to get my butt beat so badly.