First, I'd like to tell you that I finally have a friend that is from the UK who has made it into my cell phone. I can, at long last, assign London Calling by the Clash to a number in my cell phone and have it make sense! Thanks Steve!! I have been waiting a long time to do that.
Last night I played trivia. Poorly I might add. It was not one of my finest showings. One of the questions that was asked was: What children's game was designed in the 1940s by Eleanor Abbott, while she was recovering from polio? Answer: Candyland.
Of course, being the genius I am, I over-thought the whole thing and reasoned that the girl is recovering from polio so she is probably dreaming about the things she can't do because of her condition. Things like climbing up ladders and sliding down chutes. Thus my answer (my wrong answer) Chutes and Ladders.
That is when my UK buddy, Steve, said to me; "Oh you mean it's not Snakes and Ladders here?"
"Snakes?!?! You have your children slide down snakes?"
I remember playing Chutes and Ladders as a child. It's bad enough that when you get to a chute you have to go back and cover ground you had already worked so hard to get through. Especially that really big one that went from all the way from box 87 to box 24. Childhood devastation was the big chute! But to add to the trauma of certain board game defeat by having to slide down a snake? What are those UKers thinking?
See for yourself.
Here's the game I remember.
Now here is a version of Snakes and Ladders that I found online.
Look at the one at the bottom bearing his teeth! Good heavens!
To all of you last minute Christmas shoppers out there especially in the UK, please steer clear of the game that involves sliding into the jaws of a snake.
And my Christmas wish to you all...May your holiday season be all ladders that go from box 28 to box 84! Happy Holidays!!
