Games People Play

Yesterday my mother suggested that I play Othello with my father.  Her suggestion brought a whole flood of memories with it.  I used to play games with my father all of the time.  My father insisted that he would only play “thinking” games with me.  So, Parcheesi, Othello and Boggle were in.  Hungry, Hungry Hippos and Operation were out.
I see my father’s influence in the games my brother has bought for his daughters.  They play chess and “grown up” Monopoly, even if they need a little extra help at this age.  Most of games they play on the iPad or computer are educational games.  I suspect if I asked my brother outright if he was following the same rules we grew up with, he would say no.  But I think the pattern is fairly clear.
I also see my father’s influence in my own choices.  If you were to look at the games on my phone or tablet, you would find mostly word and strategy games.  I’m not sure if I am just rationalizing here, but I believe even the time management games I play to relax involve some strategizing.  After all, I need to prioritize tasks and weigh the consequences of my actions.
I keep a couple of mindless games on my tablet for when I am too tired to play a thinking game.  But I haven’t exercised that option in months.  I figure if I am too tired to play the games I want to, it must be time to sleep.
What I wonder is why this rule has stuck with me all these years.  What made this rule different than all other rules?  Why wasn’t this one of the rules I rebelled against as soon as I had the chance?  Is it because it matched my own natural inclinations? Or was it because I lacked a playmate?  My brother is significantly younger than me, so my parents were the only ones to play games with on boring Sunday afternoons.
The opportunity to play games with my father is now precious to me.  We didn’t end up playing any games last night because he just wasn’t up for it. My father’s memory is fading and there will come a time when he can no longer play games.  But until that day comes, I will keep asking him if he wants to play a thinking game with me.