Easy Games to Put Life Back in Your Family Reunions
Ahhh, yes. The picturesque family reunion
More images of reunion action
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HIS STORY
Let's break-down the word "reunion," for a moment.
The prefix "Re" simply means to do again. Re-run; repeat; re-do. And the suffix, "union," simply stands for a group of people that are unified as one group--in the workplace, school, church or family.
And when these groups of family or non-family members of a group get together mostly once a year, the event is called a "reunion." I bet you didn't think that I was an English wizard, did you?
Reunions, for the most part, are big fun. Games, good talk, good food, sharing warm memories and showing photos of those attending the reunion when they were younger.
Some reunions are not fun at all. And it's not really anyone's fault. Coordinating a fun reunion is hard work. I should know. I've sat back and watched a lot of my friends plan and coordinate many a reunion. And just watching these people work like fire ants on honey, tuckered me out. I had to lay down when I got home and rest.
Take it from me, some reunions cannot be described but with one word: DULL. Notice I didn't say boring, drowsy, or just plain not worth the gasoline to drive to one of these "snoozers."I wanted to show compassion and understanding.
But you, if you are a daring soul, can use the following "games" to help put some fire into the sleepiest of reunions. You can take off that dull edge and make everyone happy and alert with these various "Reunion Games." But do be warned. Some of these will only work at reunions where the people do not know you.
So keep that in mind as we look at . . ."Easy Games to Put The Life Back Into Your Reunion."
GET CONTROVERSIAL RUMOR started. Walk up to some cousin that you will never see again, and say something like, "I hear that the ground beef down this way is being monitored by the U.S.D.A., but don't tell a soul." Of course the U.S.D.A. grades beef, steak, rump roasts and all commercial meats. But the fun is that "this" cousin only heard the official-sounding "U.S.D.A." and his imagination will run wild telling everyone what "he" has just heard while you sit back, sip your iced tea and laugh.
MAKE OLDER WOMEN happy. Pick out an attractive older lady between the ages of 38 and 40 and just say to her, "May I just say that you are without question, one of the prettiest ladies at this reunion," tip your hat and blend into the crowd. Her had has been made. And will spend many days in the near future wondering who you are.
DO CHEAP MAGIC tricks for the kids. Put quarter in one hand, get their attention and pull it from behind their ear. They will be amazed. Why do this for the kids? For the hot single mom's who are taken-in by your sensitive ways.
DO THE UNOBVIOUS and ask for everyone to listen for a moment. Then whip out a book of vintage poetry. Read one or two heart-touching poems and then sit down. Some single woman who loves this side of you will definitely seek you out and find out more about your sensitive side.
MAKE IT UP AS YOU GO when talking to uncles whom you have never me. If they ask, "aren't you Jason Guttson's son?" Look happy and reply, "well, not his legal son, sir," and walk away. These shocked uncles will certainly have a lot to say about "a" Jason Guttson.
SHOW PICTURES of your super-model wife, which is a picture that comes in a picture frame you get in a department store. This will always work for most of these people have never met you. Have a "gal pal" to call you at a strategic time and say sensuous things to you on your cell phone. "she won't leave me alone," you tease. Then allow girls at this reunion to listen in as she, "gal pal," talks more sexy things to you while the girls listening to her every word will want you more than a plate of southern fried chicken with potato salad. Why? It's a sociological fact that most girls want what other girls have. And there you go.
THE PATIENCE GAME is always fun to play with people at reunions where you have never met the people who are supposedly related to you. Get into a conversation with a "know-it-all," and believe me, there will be one of these "windbags" at most reunions. You simply ignite his fancy tales about himself by asking, "now what is it that you do?" and off he goes for hours on end--telling one over-exaggerated tale about his successes in life after another. But you can wear him out by saying three words, "so, then what?" Sooner or later "windbag," will literally run out of wind. And then you can stand victorious as the one who "broke him" like in the breaking of a bucking bronco.
TELL A BIGGER LIE than the person who is the center of attention. This is too easy. If "John Browder," retired bass fisherman, says, "my last bass weighed-in at 44 pounds," you simply wait for a moment and share "your" bass story about a 60-pounder you snagged in Lost Bayou, Louisiana. What is "Browder" going to do, say, "my mistake. It weighed 70 pounds," You can take down most good-hearted liars by just upping the size, speed or taste of whatever the "liar" is bragging about.
GIVE BAD ANSWERS to nosy reunion attendants. This is my favorite game of all. Just stand or sit and wait. The nosy people will seek you out. Then hit you with all sorts of personal questions. Example: Nosy: You here for the food? You: Nope, the strippers. Nosy: Strippers? We don't have that vulgar stuff at these reunions. You: My mistake. I meant the dog show. Nosy: Are you trying to be a smart alec? You: Trying? You get how it's done. Soon the nosy people will leave in frustration.
CAUSE A STIR by holding up a twenty-dollar bill and gasping, "Hey, look, folks, what I found! Who lost this twenty-dollar bill?" Probably no one will claim the bill. But one curious person will surely ask, "where did you find it?" "In the trash can," you reply in a stern tone. Before long, people will line-up to go through the trash cans in hopes of finding more money.
As the people are clamoring for the money in the trash can, you can silently slip-away undiscovered.
But you can always live with the fact that someone will eventually ask, "just who was that strange man?"
"I thought he was kin to you," others will reply. "No, I thought he was with your family," others, with stunned faces, will say.
The Lone Ranger never had it this good.