A ROLL OF THE DICE©
Birthdays
at our house were always very special -- my father made sure of it. He always had some crazy game he had dreamed
up for us to play as we "searched" for our gift.
To
celebrate my mother's birthday one year my father assembled us all in the
family room. He produced a one-foot
square pillow (dice) and about twenty cards which he spread in a meandering
line on the floor, each card about 18 inches from the next, similar to a pathway
in which one might move their "piece" on a game board.
The
object . . . roll the dice, pace off the appropriate number, reach down and
pick up a card, read aloud what it said, and then follow the directions to the
best of your ability. Mom rolled the
dice for a four, paced off four cards on the floor, picked up the fourth card
which read: "Tennis anyone? Receive one dollar for every time you are
able to bounce a ball up in the air off a tennis racket . . . sitting
down."
Ever
tried to bounce a ball on a tennis racket while sitting down? Practically
impossible but great fun to watch! Mom
earned about three dollars on that one.
She
continued to roll the dice, step off the cards, pick them up, read them and
even made a few dollars. Some of the tasks
were extremely inventive: "Call the dog.
If she comes on the first call, win $10; the second call, win $5; the
third call $.50. How many glasses is the
dishwasher designed to accommodate?; how many steps on the stairway to the
second floor?; how many shoe boxes in your closet?" Money was rewarded on a sliding scale based
on how close Mom was to the correct number.
When
Mom got to the last card it read:
"Go to your room!" We
all looked at each other and then raced up to the master bedroom. Upon entering we saw the glow of two candles,
a beautiful red rose on my mother's pillow, and next to the rose a box
containing a pair of beautiful emerald earrings.
My
father took my mother's hand and said, "Honey, you are the greatest
treasure in my life. I rolled the dice
thirteen years ago and I've been a winner ever since. Happy Birthday."
Drop by and let us help
you be her HERO!
St.
John & Myers Jewelry - the only jeweler in
Central Kentucky with expertise in antique and period jewelry, custom design
and restoration of antique jewelry.
400 Old Vine Street, Ste
100, Lexington KY 40507
859-559-4242
Shop Online at http://www.rubylane.com/shop/stjohnandmyers
