On Sunny Lane: Game Nights

I was watching Wheel of Fortune on television a couple of nights ago.

I like to see if I can guess the answers to the puzzles before the contestants do. I like to see the people amass huge amounts of money. But I hate to see a contestant not solve any puzzles and not win any money. It makes me feel bad for them. I realize that the person receives a consolation prize of $1,000, but what fun is that?

Sweetheart and I play games in the evening when we don’t have social engagements. After all, besides Wheel of Fortune, what good programs are on television anyway? We have seven different games that we play. Each night we pick three of them and play a trifecta. When one of us wins, the other person gives him or her a kiss. For one person it is a victory kiss and for the other it is a consolation kiss. Now, that is fun.

A couple of years ago (I remember it well), we played Skip Bo for several nights in a row. We had played several games before I realized that I had lost them all. It amounted to 13 games over the period of time. At first, I was cheerful, because I could look forward to winning the next game. Then, later I became downcast, but hopeful.

After a while, I became sullen--even angry. It was nobody’s fault that I was on a losing streak. I don’t know how Sweetheart felt about it, but I wouldn’t have wanted him to throw the game for the world. And, to his credit, he didn’t gloat or tease me. I realized it was just a game, but I still wanted to win.

And, then, I won a game! And then I won another...and another. But, I took little pleasure in winning all of those games, because Sweetheart was losing. I knew how he felt. I felt bad for him.

What do I want? Both of us can’t win every time. It seems as though it evens out over the course of time, though, and that’s what makes the whole thing worth the effort.

Sometimes feelings get hurt as we travel the road in life. Sometimes we feel as though we’re not getting ahead. Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair.

Life isn’t fair. At least, it doesn’t appear that way at times. We win a few and we lose a few. So, it’s easy to show compassion toward someone who is having a down period in life. It makes the journey just a little sweeter.

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Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com