LEFT RIGHT CENTER
No, I’m not referring to American politics, though that can often feel like the roll of the dice . I’m talking about the game called Left Right Center. Have you ever played?
Everyone starts with three chips and then take turns rolling the three dice. An L means to give your chip to the person on the left, R goes to the right, and C goes in the center. A dot means you don’t do anything. If you run out of chips, you wait. The person on either side of you may have to forfeit a chip. Sometimes you have to wait several turns. Sometimes only until the next person rolls. When all but one player runs out of chips, they win the round.
A group of us played Left Right Center on Friday night. It was a lady’s game night to benefit local Relay for Life efforts, which raises money for cancer research.
Nancy is one of the members of the team that has hosted this fun event for the past seven years. A group of Nancy’s friends always try to attend. It’s a fun time with food and the usual chatter that goes on when women gather. We always choose to play LRC. Others play Bingo. We make more noise than they do!
Prizes are wrapped in gift bags. They are filled with candles and jewelry, lotions and notions; samples and unused nice things that are donated. Sometimes you win what you donated. There are also raffle baskets. Did I say there was food?
I found myself thinking about my friends as the dice took its turn around the circle. We’ve been friends for a very long time. Each of us has had our turn of life’s good and bad, elation and worry, heartache and joy. We’ve had our times with no chips. Then from the left, or is the right?, our friends come through and toss a few chips our way. We’ve taken each other to the doctor or emergency room and watched each other’s children. We’ve gathered at funerals, showers and weddings. We’ve laughed and we’ve cried, we’ve been angry and forgiving. Left or right, it seems in the end we all eventually do get the chips in the center.
Do you have a fun charity gathering or game night?
I have never played the game, but it sounds like fun. I like the way you compare it to your friendships. Trivia nights are a big thing around here and we have lots of local things to help the food pantry or local sports teams etc.
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It is really easy and really fun, Janet and fun with kids as well. Thank you. They are a good group of friends. Your trivia nights sound like the same type of gathering. Ladies having fun while benefitting others.
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That sounds like a lovely evening, Penny, Games and old friendships and all in a good cause. 🙂 I haven’t heard of the game but I will investigate. Quiz nights are popular in the UK and these are often held for charity, as are coffee mornings and other easy to organise small events.
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It was, Perpetua, and something that good folks do all around the world to help out others and enjoy each other’s company in the process. It is really an inexpensive game of three dice and some chips. Game stores sell them here in the States, but, I’ve seen it on the internet for a few dollars. It’s small enough to put in a purse or tote for a quick game anytime.
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I don’t! But why don’t I? What a good idea. The game sounds fun, but the intention and meaning behind it is simply wonderful. And your thoughts on friendship and the strength and support that comes our way through these friends, is a beautiful sentiment. I hold tightly to my friendships, and perhaps even more now that we are getting older. We need each other in a whole new way! I have reflected upon this a lot as I’ve been separated from a wonderful dear friend who lives 3,000 miles away–is ill, and could use friends around her. She is more isolated than I have ever been. It has made me think even more about the power of relationships. What a nice way for me to start my day today, Penny. You’ve put me in a thoughtful frame of mind! Debra
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As I mentioned to Perpetua, it is easy to find on the internet, Debra, or a game store and is small enough to put in a purse for an outing and easy for kids to enjoy. Friends do become dearer and dearer as we age, don’t they? 3,000 miles is so far, even further when someone is ailing – both for the friend that is ill and the friend that loves her so.
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The game sounds like a great reflection of what we see in long-term friendships, with the ups and downs of our lives, and it sounds as if you had great fun too.
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It was great fun, Juliet, and yes, a reflection of our friendships. Not unlike your recent reunion.
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I have played this game with Eoin but he’s not too thrilled with it and I’m not much of a game player so we’ve only played once or twice. This was a lovely post Penny!
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It’s more fun with more players, Janet. It goes a little faster and you never know who will win. Thank you, Janet.
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How cleaver you are to turn this fun little game into a blog entry about friendship. Sorry I missed it this year.
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We missed you, Sandy. It seems every year one of us miss this. I was out of town last year. The important thing is that we come as we can. See you soon.
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What a nice blog and I’m glad I’m one of those friends in the group. We do have fun. Our only problem is knowing which is our left or right…We play LRC with pennies, nickles, or dimes. The pile in the Center goes to the winner of that round. Kids like to play when they know they may end up winning money.
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I am, too Sharon, I am too! I know, that and knowing when it was our turn. We figure it out eventually – and it makes for a few good laughs. It is fun having something to sweeten that pot, isn’t it? Chocolate would work for me. tee hee
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Always game nights at RV Parks and LRC is just about my game speed! I like the idea of playing for charity, but have never seen that. (We play for pennies.)
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What fun that must be as you travel about, Sallie. For this game night, there was a donation for admission, which went to Relay for Life. I know several who play at home for pennies. Fun.
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Dear Penny,
I don’t have a group of friends who sponsor or engage in a game night, but your posting really makes your group come alive for me.
This posting is an paean to friendship. It could be made into a lovely gift care to give to a friend. Your writing is so lyrical that it always inspires my kindest and most grateful thoughts.
Peace.
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You may not have a group of friends who do a game night, Dee, but you did engage a group of friends via the internet blogging community to help raise awareness and funds for Melynda. Just a different circle of friends with a similar purpose.
What a very fine thing to say, Dee. I appreciate our words more than you can imagine. Thank you.
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