Where were you during the hailstorm Tuesday, April 4? I was at the Aurora Public Library District’s (APLD) West Branch listening to what sounded like softballs falling on the domed skylight! It was ice. I was there to meet the attendees of our new program series, Games for Grown Ups (formerly known as Senior Hangout). They let me teach them a card game and shared how their group formed, why they enjoy meeting at the Library, and what keeps them coming back each week.
The first game we tried was a game I brought from home that my kids love, called Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. While dealing, I asked the ladies what brought them to the Library that afternoon to play. “In the very beginning, all four of us attended the game night at New England Church and that was a lot of fun,” started Martha Ryan. “But they were only having it one night because Winter was coming.” Added Connie Hoffman, “we thought it would be nice to meet regularly so you could spend time actually playing instead of learning each time you walked in. That’s when Sue [Reimer] took off with the idea.” Sue Reimer is a regular at West Branch and enjoys attending Library programs. She began organizing gaming meet-ups at the Library. “We had two tables full of people, making a lot of noise, and the librarians would come check on us. Cesar [Teen Librarian, Cesar Ortega] was there, reassuring us that we don’t have to be quiet. But after a couple of noisy weeks, they put us in the Meeting Room. Now it’s on the Library event calendar and open to anybody!” New attendees can expect to learn a variety of games. The Library owns tile games, card games, and games with pieces, with new board games being brought in all the time by participants! If you don’t like one kind of game, we have options.
Because there were only four friends at this particular meeting, most likely due to the weather, the second game they pulled out was a four-player strategy game similar to Tetris called Blokus. Although they tried to occupy board space with their brightly-colored pieces, we talked about the benefits of playing board games with others. “I like games that make you think!” chimes in Connie. Playing board games improves cognitive function by challenging the brain with strategy and problem-solving. Additionally, playing board games can be a fun and engaging way to pass the time, by providing a sense of enjoyment and fulfillment. That is, until the competition gets heated. “You learn which of your friends are cutthroat and which are lenient!” added Sue Reimer.
Speaking of cutthroat, the last game played during my visit was Sorry! A staple for many years, this Library-owned game was still new in the box. The group prefers to try new games they’ve never heard of, or those recommended by Cesar Ortega. “Cesar’s been awesome!” said Connie Hoffman. “It’s nice to have somebody help us that knows how to play to keep it going,” said Blokus winner Pat Myers. Cesar enjoys sharing his personal favorites with members of the group. He said, “my goal was to teach people games they have not played before and share the love I have for board games. The feedback has been amazing, so far. Every week I am told how much fun they are having and how they hope the group continues to grow.” As I left the meeting to the sound of laughter and taunts of “Sorry!”, I too hope more community members find joy in playing games by attending these meetings.
If you recognize that playing games and trying new things brings you joy, but playing addictive games on your phone or computer screen leads to feeling isolated, why not get out of the house and come by the West Branch Tuesday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.? You’ll get a chance to play board games you enjoyed in the past, learn new games that test your wit, and make new friends as you socialize with others. Most importantly, you’ll have fun. I know I had fun playing games and gaping at the giant hailstones landing on the Library lawn! That’s a memory I won’t soon forget.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.