Yahtzee

, I have a confession to make.  Until last month, I have never played Yahtzee.  No, I do not live under a  rock.  And while I thought I had the perfect childhood, clearly I was deprived of the game of 5 dice and the joy of yelling "YAHTZEE!"   (for shame mom and dad for shame)

My childhood was full of games, Candyland, Trouble, Scrabble, Monopoly- the ones that most Americans have played at least once in their life.  As a child, I even had a few rare games-Mystery Date and I even had a Plant of the Apes board game.  So my parents were not trying to keep fun out of my life--but no Yahtzee.  Not sure why.  (insert sad face here)

Regardless of the limitations of my childhood, I have discovered the joy of throwing the 5 dice, making decisions based on the rolls, hoping for the the numbers I need and of course the remarkable Yahtzee!.  And my life will never be the same.  Oh, the thrill of yelling Yahtzee, passing out high-fives along the way when you get the coveted 5 of a kind.  

I bought some dice and the scorepads (I did NOT get the boxed game--which I was told by my husband is not a true Yahtzee experience if you don't have the little cup to roll the dice -- so we now use a plastic drink glass as our tumbler..  Again, how was I to know such things, I have coaxed my family into playing a few games after dinner several nights--I think they say yes, because I often play by myself and they think that is so sad and pitiful.  Milton Bradley had it wrong--it is not for 2+ players.. It is fun as a 1+ solitary game. I have fun playing alone--trying to beat my previous score and learning to strategize. 

I'm sure I could make all kinds of references to how a game of Yahtzee is like the game of life.  That we act on a chance, only to realize a few rolls later that we should have made a difference decision.  That even the game gives you a "chance"-which is sort of like a throw away.  You learn that not everything is within your control. 

​But I don't have time for that.  I got to get back to the game.  I'm rolling for an inside straight.