Monday, September 10, 2007

Manic Monday #24: Clue

When I was growing up, my brothers and I used to spend most summer days and evenings out in the street, playing street games with the neighborhood kids. I also remember times when we, about eight or nine of us, would fling ourselves on our bikes and ride off to spend the afternoon in one of the local pools. But when the rains came and classes had to be suspended, we'd amuse ourselves indoors with various toys: robots that were popular during that time, miniature cars, board games.

One of our favorite board games was Cluedo (or Clue), a cool whodunit. By methods of deduction, one had to be the first to announce the murderer's identity, along with the weapon he/she used and the room in the mansion where the murder was committed. I remember my character was always Miss Scarlet; my older brother liked using Professor Plum while my younger brother always chose Colonel Mustard.

Then came computer games. We particularly liked Sierra On-Line's adventure offerings, such as the King's Quest and Space Quest series. It used to be that one would need about ten of those humungous eight-inch floppy disks to hold one game. The quest for each game may have been different, but the gameplay was similar: follow a series of clues, talk to each person along the way, make use of the objects you come across, find a cheat or walkthrough when you get stuck. If you kept at it long enough you'd succeed. And you would've had fun besides.

This made me think about real-life adventures. I don't mean adventures on a grand scale -- like climbing Mount Everest or saving whales. Every day can be an adventure in itself. Getting an unexpected laugh, doing something small for someone else, writing about something that you find to be utterly glorious in all its shapes and colors, finding something to be passionate about and acting on them, sharing with others helpful information that you enjoy reading, just because, inspiring others and being inspired -- all these things add up to make the game of life a richer experience.

Sure, there may be moments when clues are ignored or overlooked, when whatever system you're dealing with screws up, when you seem to be stuck, when you lose enthusiasm and feel like throwing in the towel and give it all up. But I believe that each of us an inner spark, an ember that keeps on glowing no matter how much we feel like we're drowning in despair or apathy. And somehow we persevere. Achieving victories in life isn't always accompanied by fireworks, fame and fortune (though I won't say no to those!). But when it's Game Over, win or lose, certain players you meet along the way and experience things with, whether for just a season or for a lifetime, make everything worthwhile.

32 comments:

Scott from Oregon said...

Yes.



Play.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Scott.

You never stop playing.

Photo Cache said...

just to get to work on time despite the heavy traffic is an adventure in itself, one I take each day.

Anonymous said...

That's an adventure I'm glad to do without, Photo, since I work at home. :-) Hope your weekend is coming along well.

houseband00 said...

And we move on to the next thing. =)

Ian said...

Someone very wise once said:

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

He also claimed to be the Sausage King of Chicago, so I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.

I'm glad you're playing the game, Lizza, and I'm glad you're on the same team as me. :)

Ian

Sidney said...

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good."

Enjoy the game!

Anonymous said...

Everyday is definitely an adventure!

[:

Anonymous said...

I've never played Cluedo - boo hoo.
I bet Penfold did it though, probably in the lavatory.

Anonymous said...

HB: And on, and on, and on... :-)

Ian: Sausage, yum! I'm glad we're on the same team too.

Sidney: Again, lovely quote. And so apt! Enjoy the game too!

Kyels: It most definitely is.

DaddyP: Oh, try it! It'll be a cinche for you, with your extraordinary powers of deduction.

Penfold probably does many other things in the lavatory.

Gattina said...

I agree ! But I didn't have a clue about this Clue game today I became a specialist, lol !

Anonymous said...

very interesting post!

have a great week!

Glamourpuss said...

I live for adventure, sadly this seems to scare a lot of the people around me.

Puss

Lizza said...

Gattina: The things we learn every day. :-)

Hana: Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week too.

Puss: Beautiful and smart women like you usually scare other people.

Durward Discussion said...

The really interesting parts of life are found on the side streets. You took your post is a lovely direction.

Sandee said...

Very well said, very well indeed. Have a great MM. :)

Mo and The Purries said...

Oh, I love how you equate real life adventures with adventures in games!
That's quite a great rendition of clue!
cheers,
mo

Schmoop said...

Great game and I apologize for not stopping by. Cheers!!

Anonymous said...

Clue--one of my favorite games!! Loved your last paragraph in this post--so true.

Lizza said...

Jamie: Thanks. Sad though when people miss what the side streets have to offer because they don't see or ignore them.

Sandee: Thank you very much! Have a great MM too.

Mo: Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Matt: I've missed you around here. Welcome back! I read your blog, but I haven't said much there lately.

Bridget: Such a fun game it is. And thank you for your kind words.

Unknown said...

I love the game Cluedo, but I haven´t played for ages. The 3D game "Life" comes in between whenever we plan a gaming evening =)

Have a great week, girlfriend!

Liz Hill said...

Ah Lizza--such a clever take on the theme--wonderful as always.

little things said...

I'm not playing the game, but I loved your memory of running around with the neighborhood kids though.
Times have changed, and kids don't do that anymore.
At least not around here!

Travis Cody said...

Very well said my dear.

Tammie Jean said...

Great post Lizza! Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in one of those old quest games and I don't have all the objects I need to finish (I want to blog but I'm hungry, so I go to make a sandwich and discover I'm out of bread, so I decide to go to the store but I can't find my keys...)

Foofa said...

I am a huge fan of clue and also was always Miss Scarlett. She was cool and always went first. I also loved Kings Quest although I think I played like version IV or something. I remember getting swallowed by a whale and spending days before I looked through a walkthrough and found I had to tickle his uvula with a feather.

H said...

Sigh. Lizza how eloquently you put what's been going through my head about blog.

I don't know. I'm just not sure anymore.

But about floppies! And they were actually floppy at one time! worse is, I remember that time :-/

love the time you always manage to whip up in your posts.

love you. hugs.

Frank Sirianni said...

Hi Lizza
It's a tag, no it's a Cheering Squad assignment
And it's due Sept 24
Have fun, that's all it's meant for

iz said...

Ooh I love cluedo! Used to win too!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Game on my friend

CS said...

Life is not worth living without play. And I used to love the game Clue. (Cluedo?)

Lizza said...

Sanni: That's the greatest game of all.

Turnbaby: Thanks, sugar.

Marlayna: Oh, yes, it's still done here. But not as much in those days.

Trav: Thanks!

Tammie Jean: I know exactly what you mean. *sigh*

Natalie: Those games sure were fun!

H: You remember them, I actually got to use them. Hugs back!

Frank: Sounds like fun! I'll think about what I can come up with.

Iz: I bet your cluedo sessions were a riot!

Bond: Indeed. Cheers!

CS: Exactly. Yep, it's Clue there, Cluedo here and in some other parts of the world.