"That was a delicious dinner, Monica," my husband, Roger, complimented me.
"Yeah, mom, your fried chicken beats the colonel all to hell" my son, Rick, added and laughed.
"Mom, I'm gonna weigh 200 pounds if you keep feeding me like this" my daughter, Angie faux-complained. Since she weighed probably no more than 120, I didn't think she had much to worry about.
Amy, our other daughter, just rubbed her tummy and blew out her cheeks to show how full she was. I had to laugh at her funny expression.
I enjoyed cooking for my family. I enjoy doing things for my family and with my family. We all feel that too many families do not take time to enjoy each other's company or to find time for common interests.
"OK, OK," I said taking a mock bow from my chair at the table. "If you appreciate my cooking so much, why aren't you cleaning up the table for me."
The predictable groans came
"Ah, mom, can't we just get on with game time?"
"Yeah, we're ready for game time"
"Come on," Roger told them, "you know the rules"
The kids dutifully got up and cleared the table. Roger and I smiled at each other as we heard the kids playfully bickering in the kitchen as they rinsed dishes, loaded the dishwasher, and straightened up. We knew we were fortunate to have a family that got along so well. So many families we knew hardly spent anytime together, hardly spoke to each other in fact.
Roger and I were sitting in the family room, sharing the couch in a cuddle, when the three kids joined us there. I stopped to look at the three wonderful children our marriage had produced. We were so proud of our children.
Rick certainly took after his father. He was about 6' tall, probably around 200 pounds, firm but not over muscled. He was 22 and a senior in engineering at the local university. His hair was sandy blonde, like his father's, but longer; almost a surfer boy look.
Amy looked more like me. She was about 5'6, with shoulder length brown hair. She was slender and firm. Like me she had 34C breasts. I knew this because I was forever finding my bras in her room after she had borrowed them. She was 20 and a sophomore in music performance at the university. She could play the flute like an angel can play harp. She had a smile that could brighten a room.
Angie was our youngest at 18. Roger often teased me about Amy being the milkman's kid. She was very petite; only about 5'2, flaming red hair, wore only an A-cup bra (which her sister teased her about unmercifully, but still lovingly), and freckles. She never went anywhere without her drivers license as she was always having to prove she was 18 and not just 13 or 14. She was getting ready to enter the university, having just graduated from high school as couple of months ago.
They all came to mock attention in front of us and saluted sharply. Obviously they had planned this in the kitchen.
Rick was their spokesman. "Sir, and ma'am, all present and accounted for, sir, and ma'am. The mess galley is ready for inspection"
"Alright, alright, enough already." I chided them. "I'm sure the kitchen is fine" I knew in my heart of hearts that later I would have to go in and do it right, but at least they had helped with the most of it.
"Game time?" Roger asked me.
I looked at him and smiled. I looked at the kids. Their eyes were bright with anticipation. "Sure" I said.
Roger looked at our three kids who were now standing relaxed in front of us.
"OK, Sunday afternoon game time. What shall we play today?"
Angie spoke right up. "We talked about it in the kitchen. We want to play "timed combinations."
The others nodded their head in agreement. Roger looked at me questioningly.
I nodded also. That was one of our favorite games, so why not?
Amy said, "I'll get the box with the names in it."
Angie said, "I'll get the game box"
Rick said, "I guess I'll just sit down until they get the game stuff" and he plopped down in the recliner opposite his dad and me.
The two girls were back in the room almost immediately. Amy put the small box on the coffee table. Angie put the larger box of game equipment on the floor next to the coffee table. Amy sat down on her heals and Angie sat next to her cross-legged. "OK, let's review the basic rules, that way no one gets their feelings hurt. Game time is supposed to be fun time" Roger said.
"We roll a dice to see who draws first for their first partner. High roll goes first. If you draw your own name, you have to play solo for the first round. The two next highest rolls go next. That assures everyone plays. The timer will be set for ten minutes. When the timer goes off, round one is over and we draw for round two, and so on. Everyone agree and understand?"
It was almost comical to review these rules as we had played so many times that of course everyone knew the rules. I guess it was just part of the game time ritual we shared.