The Game of Life

---------------------------------------------------
- Karen Robertson

At 24, I had never flown in an airplane, but I had married, graduated from college and had a 2 year old son. As I was driving up Main Street in our college town, I noticed a travel agency and wondered what they did in there. Having lived my life in small towns under 2,000 populations, I had never been in a travel agency. So I stopped in and decided to play a pretending game.

"May I help you?" asked the girl behind the desk.

It was time for the game to begin. "Yes, I believe I'd like to go to Mexico City."

She brought out several brochures and price lists and opened them across the desk. I was shocked to find out that you could fly to Mexico City for less than $200. Why, I had imagined that it would cost thousands and thousands. What fun!! I gathered up the brochures and could hardly wait to show them to my husband. I spread them out across our dinner table just as the travel agent had done.

"Forget it, Karen," my husband responded. " I don't want to go to Mexico."

Dejected, I threw all the brochures away. The next day we were driving down town and I saw the travel agency again.

"Honey, stop the car! I want you to see how much fun it is to play the travel agency game and it doesn't cost anything."

He pulled the car to the curb and I eagerly lead the way inside the store. My own pretend travel agent greeted me with a smile and seemed ready to play the game again. I asked my husband where he'd like to go.

"Well, I guess I'd like to go to Hawaii. We have several college friends there."

"Great!" I said. "Looks like we'll need some information on Hawaii today."

An hour later, we exited the agency with two tickets for Hawaii, leaving in two days with transfers to every Island, and a return trip in two weeks. We rushed around taking our son to his grandparents, packing bags, and borrowing money from our credit union for expenses.

It was the best money lesson we ever learned. We paid the credit union back out of our check at $50/month. When the trip was paid for, we never stopped saving the money. Soon there was enough for a new freezer, twin beds for the kids, and so on. Every time we got a raise, we added more to the amount being taken from our check and put into the credit union.

Many trips, freezers, and beds later, we know that saving regularly puts a couple in the position of not having to rely on credit cards and loans. What started out as a game became the game of life for us.

About the Author:

Karen Robertson is an educator whose career spans over five decades. She has taught from elementary to university level. Her experiences as a Christian, wife, mother, teacher, Trauma Intervention Volunteer, freelance writer, certified clown, and Professional Life & Business Coach, which allows her to help others reach their big hairy audacious goals. She can be reached at kanwrite@verizon.net or www.giantstepsuccess.com