Hide and go seek in the dark

My brother reminded me of a game we used to play when we were young. We named it Hide and Go Seek in the Dark. Oh, don't let the name fool you - it was much more complex than it sounds.

The three of us would hole up in a guest bedroom and plot and plan for hours on end. Hide and Go Seek in the Dark came about on a rainy Sunday sometime when we were still in grade school. If you were "it", your sole duty was to stare at the overhead light for approximately forever if Brett was the timekeeper. The other two would man the light and when "time was up", turn it off.

As you can imagine, if you've ever stared at a light for any length of time, the afterimage is permanently burned into your retina. One person would turn "it" around and around rendering you blind and vomitous (I really hope my dad doesn't read this) and completely without direction. The other two sibs would hide while the sick, dizzy, headblind one would stumble around in the darkened room searching for the next victim of this bizarre game.

Even more bizarre, we played it hours on end and for years! I'm sure we did permanent damage to our eyes (in fact, since I had to have LASIK in December, I'm certain of it). This was in the formative years after we stopped playing Star Wars in the back of Dad's car and before we started listening to Michael Jackson. Dude, that dates me if nothing else does.

Remembering this game was such a relief after a couple of really bad weeks that I find myself owing my brother - not a place you really want to be most times! We lost our beloved dog to cancer and had to put her down (which is the most barbaric thing you can do in the name of humanity). For a couple of days, I walked around with her afterimage burned into my retina. She was such a part of our lives that I saw her out of my peripheral vision for days after she was gone.

Sick, dizzy, and a little headblind, I stumbled through work and life missing that dog more than I can remember missing any human being. I think God gives us pets to show us real unconditional and unquestioning love and it should break our hearts when they are gone. Even now, sitting at my computer writing this, I think she should be laying at my feet waiting for me to get up and play or feed her or play.

Thank you God for simple gifts of furry friends, family, human friends and the joys of memories be they nostalgic, sad, or joyful. "This is My comandment that you love one another and your joy may be full!"