You know that board game, with dice and play money, that has a nasty reputation for ending abruptly when played by young children? Well. I never liked it. I never won. Looking back, I managed to build one hotel. Once. Only to have it taken away after landing on someone's hotel. On Boardwalk. And my hotel was the last of my losses. The move bankrupted me in one fell swoop.
Then the strangest thing happened. After a decade of living a Monopoly-free lifestyle, I was in the mood. I wanted to play again. Maybe it would help my kid learn about handling money (or scar him for life, whichever). So I bought a board. We played. And I lost again.
Only this time, I was okay with it.
In fact, I was happy to see his excitement, taking advantage of the age-old adage of "Beginner's Luck." I was equally excited to hand him my hard earned cash (it's play money, so I don't might so much). We had fun. That's what matters. And then I learned something!
(Light bulb!)
I think it's the shoe. It's cursed. I always pick it. No race car. No fox terrier. No bowler hat. The shoe. You know what? The shoe is one of the playing pieces. It has as much chance of coming out on top as any other piece. Writing is the same way. We're all players in a giant game of hard work and chance, losses and victories. The only difference is there's no monopoly on writing. There are multiple winners. Some now. Some later. Pick your piece and stick with it. You can't win if you don't play.
When that day comes, I want to be holding this.
Update: No real progress in writing or revising this weekend. Life happens. Plus I'm reading a couple manuscripts from friends of mine. Good stuff. I did, however, get the chance to meet Erin Summerill and Peggy Eddleman while dropping off a giveaway book (I have no pictures to prove it, so you'll have to take my word for it). It was a blast to finally shake hands with awesomeness. They are amazing and super friendly!
For those of you who looked forward to my last Friday post, something goofed with the auto post. And it was a guest post, too! If you missed it, please check it out.
What's your favorite board game?
I'm David, and people hate playing Risk with me.
I'm not sure I ever played Monopoly to completion. It get so boring after you buy most everything.
ReplyDeleteI love monopoly! Life has happened to me too this week. Glad I'm not the only one :)
ReplyDeleteI NEVER win at Monopoly. But I still think its a fun game :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite board game isn't actually a board game... so I'm cheating :) But I LOVE Catch Phrase!
Does Settlers of Catan count as a board game? If so, that. If not...CandyLand.
ReplyDeleteI'm always the car...and at least half the time i win;) My favorite games though are usually something like Risk, especially Castle Risk:)
ReplyDeleteYes Monopoly!! Even though I lose a lot ha.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy a rousing board game of Monopoly, though I think I tend to play with people who've added their own "unique rules".
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy playing Sorry.
I LOVE Monopoly. That's way too funny about the shoe! What makes you pick the shoe every time? haha I'm always the pooch and it works wonders for me. My advice would be to try the dog!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite board game is Scattegories.
ha ha! I can't believe you posted about me. It was great meeting you and Joanna, and your awesome kiddos. We totally need to get together. You are a blast.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm always the car. Because it's snazzy looking.
i hate that ame to, tho i won sometimes. its just so darn long! and my hub & oldest son are super lucky! its xtra challenging to play anything w/them, so i dont play "M"!
ReplyDeleteI'm always the shoe too! I think the shoe must be cursed, because in family games I never win. Though in a game of one on one the other player has no chance. I'm a tight fist.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite board game is Getaway. I can at least pretend to travel round the world. Plus of course there's the awesomely random facts I learn.
I always hated Monopoly, Life, Easy Money, and any game with a bank. :)
ReplyDeleteYour friend,
The Perpetual Banker
I'm always the guy on horseback, because I always picked that when I was obsessed with horses when I was young :) I suppose nothing's changed.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you about Erin and Peggy, David. They are total B's! jk..jk. They are pure awesome.
ReplyDeletei haven't played that game in years. I like Scrabble.
ReplyDeleteI was always the dog. :P
ReplyDeleteI always hated Monopoly! But, I did love playing Scrabble, Yahtzee, and Scattegories. SO FUN. But, you're right, to win - you have to keep playing. One time, I got into playing Spider Solitaire. I played a good 700 times before I won...once. I still have that picture and it reminds me all the time how much effort you have to put into winning.
ReplyDeleteI won't play Monopoly anymore because my wife always wins. I can own three sides of the boards and she kicks my butt with a hotel on Baltic Ave.
ReplyDeleteOnly time we lose is if we quit. And it doesn't matter how long something takes either...
Inspiring post, David. I like to play Monopoly, so long as it's not with my husband. He's got an MBA and likes to strategize with his money. I always lose.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I hope me and my game piece win big someday. I'm the top hat. In the computerized version of the game a bunny jumps out of the hat when I do well. I like the bunny. : )
I actually just tripped over the Monopoly board in the kitchen, so I'm not too fond to the game right now, but whatever. ;) I always enjoy playing, though. And you're so right--it definitely relates to writing. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI feel just like the shoe today. You got to meet Erin and Peggy? No fair, how do you get all the fun ;)
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Apples to Apples? That's a big favorite in my family (goes along well with all of our randomness). Also, I love the hat playing piece in monopoly. Mainly because I can put it on my fingertip to move it around. Exciting, right? :)
ReplyDeleteI'm 41 and my brother is 39. My Mum still won't let us play Monopoly together :-)
ReplyDeleteMy word... I haven't played Monopoly in ages...
ReplyDeleteFood for thought: you can't win if you don't play! So true!
Btw, love the Monopoly/Writing analogy!
My favorite board game is Settlers of Cataan. I don't really care for Monopoly anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have terrible memories of Monopoly. I was a really sore loser as a kid so I would cry and throw the board.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite game, hands down, is SCRABBLE.
Well that's a rather inspirational post. I still with the terrier myself. I don't think we ever played Monopoly right, but I once stayed up all night trying. :)
ReplyDeleteCranium. I still can't whistle "I Heard it Through the Grape Vine" to save my life but I'm great at play dough pizza.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the patience for Monopoly, although my 11 year old loves it. Thinking about getting the Doctor Who version. Looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteI kick ass at Stratego, though.
I always lose at Monopoly, and like many of the commenters above, I don't have the patience for it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
“…Maybe it would help my kid learn about handling money…” – I think that’s better put that way. Though you’ve never had a really successful experience with the game, you can still introduce it to your kid. :) But you lost again. He-he. At least you’re okay with it now, and you’ve discovered his potential in money management. :) Play another set so you’ll know it’s not just beginner’s luck. ;D
ReplyDeleteEsmeralda Tabarez