
Just because the Thirsty Crab is only two lanes over from the ferry traffic where you’re stuck, doesn’t mean you’ve stumbled upon a shell of a lot of luck. You probably shouldn’t get out of your car, even if the Thirsty Crab mascot is holding a pitcher of beer and pointing at it with its pincers as if to say, “Hey! The line’s not moving, so let’s get cracking!”
Instead, take a deep breath, roll down the windows, and play some raucous car games. Sure, there’s always “I spy…” and the license plate game and “vampire or not?” (That’s the one where you decide if random people outside your car are vampires or not.) However, I was looking for something different, so I found this website called R We There Yet, Mom? And one of the games mentioned was “I own a store and I sell…” It’s like the alphabet game, where you go around the room with each letter of the alphabet and mention something new, but the context of the store makes it kind of fun.
Though Nate, Alex, and I didn’t play this game in the car, I’ll bet we could sell anything from Airbus coupons to “zebra snacks”—and all kinds of crack in between (crack corn salad, crack company chicken casserole, etc.)
We did have a go at a Mad-Libs type game when I took a moment to write a very boring story with blanks in it and vague suggestions for filling them in.
Story:
Once upon a time, we were waiting for a ______(noun). It was taking ________(period of time). We looked around and saw a____(singular noun). A (noun)__________ was (gerund/ing form of a verb)____________ and some (plural noun) were _____(gerund/ing form of a verb). Suddenly, we saw a___(singular noun) and heard____(sounds). We were incredibly_______(adjective). Then, the line started moving, and we were so_____(adjective). We shouted,______.
Nate and Alex’s Answers:
Once upon a time, we were waiting for a big-ass bus. It was taking a year. So, we looked around and saw a pier. A car was fishing, and some fishes were crabbing. Suddenly, we saw a bird and heard farts. We were incredibly blue. Then, the line started moving, and we were so green. We shouted, “Whooo!”
We had a laugh or two, but the story was seriously lacking in orcas.
The line was starting to move, so we didn’t play this last game, which I sort of kind of invented:
This is Your Life Bingo
Everyone in the car could draw random pictures of pets, people, modes of transportation, and places to live. Then, you could fold them, place them in a cup, and everyone would draw from each category.
For instance, if someone in the car were to draw a picture of a shark-clown, that could be marriage material. Congratulations! Or, that could be your pet that you’ll own—whatever. It’s your life. Your time waiting in the car. Why not spend it with the first shark-clown you see?
Your Turn: When waiting in line for something, how do you pass the time (other than looking at your phone)?
It depends on what I’m waiting in line for and who I’m with. If I’m by myself, I–wait for it–look at my phone.
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It’s hard not to look at the phone. 🙂
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I still haven’t mastered the fine art of typing on it, though.
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I’ll pass your question because I’ve forgotten what waiting in a line feels like! And if I have to, I’ll hope for a ‘ shell of a lot of luck’.
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Ha! 🙂
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If you’re trapped inside with farts, turning blue is a good possibility! Waiting in line: we are finishing up redoing our new place, so usually we’re talking about what we’ve forgotten!
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So true! Making plans/to-do lists is a great idea.
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When I’m in a queue I like looking at people and wondering what they might be like
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Yes! People-watching is fun–and helps the time go by much faster.
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I usually play music in the car. It makes driving seem more pleasant to me, for sure when traffic is stalled.
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Music does make the time go by faster 🙂
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If I know I’ll have a wait, I’m usually toting a book I’m reading.
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Yes–bringing along a book is a great idea!!
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You guys have so much fun! I told the vampire or not game to my kids. They cracked up and started discussing how you could tell. One suggested pale skin and sunglasses when it wasn’t bright out. She’ll likely win the game.
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She’ll win at life! Good for her 🙂
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Ha. 🙂
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Here in Italy we don’t look at our phone, we look to other people who want to step forward and take our place 😦
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Ah, yes! Here, in Washington state, if you drive your car ahead of someone in the ferry line, you can be arrested/fined–though people still skip the line anyway.
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Really? we are not saved
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Good games! I’ll try them next time I’m stuck, with company. We usually play Animal Guessing game, which is like 20 questions – one person thinks of an animal and the others try to find it out with yes or no questions.
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I love that game! It’s a good one.
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Normally we take notes to write guides when waiting for the ferry, you can also btw take amazing pictures of arriving ferries / beaches. etc.
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Lovely! That’s a great idea–and yes, taking pictures is fun too.
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