"It's just a game; don't worry...calm down" Part 1, after "Opening Ceremonies"'

"From a child's lips to..."  A reversal, as in roles, as in "reversal of fortunes", as in when we tried, when our children were young, to keep it in perspective: "honey, it's just a game; don't get so upset" A quote that came back at me, initially, when engaged in a 'casual' board game (is there such a thing anymore?), I first heard this from one of our children when my body language apparently gave me away, that I was apparently taking "Chutes and Ladders" too seriously, coupled with the kind of reassurance my financial adviser gave me following an earlier recession: "don't worry, you can start over". Yeah, just a game, all right. And then, almost a generation later, here comes another 'babe', after our grown-up child had apparently instilled this in our grandchild, finding myself once again being 'schooled' by one quite a bit my junior, this time while playing a 'simple' (is there such a thing anymore?) card game, when he experienced the ambient temperature in the room rising to a palpable level: "calm down Papa, it's just a game..." I was reminded more recently and indirectly how IMPACT!-ful such a well-intended, casual experience, designed to bring friends and families together, can leave them feeling otherwise when a highly educated, astute man (whose career included the study and categorization of literary works of old), shared in great detail, after designing a 'chill' evening for his family by bringing out a board game they had gotten as a gift from an extended family member, in a "friendly" (to be fully elucidated, defined later, stay tuned) gesture (i.e., "you guys gotta' play this; it's a real hoot!"), resulted in a chilling experience indeed, the defrost of which took about three days, followed by sending the game back "Return to Sender" with a "thanks but no thanks"...Such good intentions that could result in...unless we are frequently reminded "don't worry..." (see yesterday's post for the connection, connectivity here)...

"The Big Chill" In 1983, a seminal boomer movie in which a group of (older, as in "Thirtysomething", which was, of course, a successful TV series) college friends re-unite, "Come Together" (an earlier big hit by Beatles not used in the movie, but easily could have, if I had my way) for the "Funeral for a Friend" (another big hit, this by Sir Elton, which was also curiously overlooked), which results in many interesting subplots, among which included both "friendly" (to be fully defined, illustrated, applied as the "Games" series continues) as well as "tests" (same) of friendship. And enter, once again, the exclaim, "And let the Games begin!" as in the 2022 Winter Games, otherwise referred to as the Bejing Winter Games which have so far featured, along with many amazing visuals, aerials, a 'warm' reception (if you can call "stay in your rooms until further notice due to..." warm) and literally bone-chilling temps. This, accompanied by so many subplots and subthemes, it makes the "Big Chill" seem like child's play😄. Which is why, I feel justified in keeping you engaged with this mini-series that will likely take a lot of twists and turns itself, as well as take commercial brakes, within which you will be offered some other fare (versus the already familiar "it's not fair!" exclamation we've seen heard and gestured in several languages already since the "Games" began). Please join me: "don't worry, it's all in fun"