Fifteen years ago, one of our children convinced Marcy and me to join him in participating in a pub trivia team. Since then, we have made it a monthly tradition to gather at various venues like bars, casinos, or restaurants to enjoy some beers and test our knowledge with trivia questions. In fact, the three of us have even taken on the responsibility of organizing and hosting our own monthly trivia night in Elk Rapids, our hometown.
On another note, one of our grandchildren’s parents, who happens to be our daughter, often relies on us for regular babysitting duties. As any grandparent would attest, the joy of spending time with grandchildren is immeasurable, especially when it involves supporting our own children. Recently, she mentioned the exorbitant cost of daycare, exceeding $900 per month for just one child, underscoring the financial value of our assistance.
I have previously shared anecdotes in this column about the final years of my late parents. Despite their passing before the pandemic, I find solace in occasionally writing about them, a practice I believe they would appreciate. Some of these stories highlight how our eldest brother resided with them, sparing our family from making arduous and costly decisions.
For those familiar with pub-style trivia, the questions often span across different generations. While topics range from classical music to contemporary genres like rap and pop, my expertise lies in the classics. Last football season’s Taylor Swift media frenzy did introduce me to a few of her songs, amidst the billions of streams her music has garnered—proving the advantage of having teammates from diverse age groups in trivia pursuits, beyond just musical knowledge.
The grandchildren we care for are aged 4 and 8, exposing me to a wealth of information about popular children’s shows like “Peppa Pig,” “Paw Patrol,” and “Thomas the Tank Engine,” along with the lyrics of “Cocomelon” and KidzBop radio. While engaging, this knowledge hasn’t notably enhanced my trivia skills yet.
My parents instilled in us a love for trivial pursuits, fostering a passion for crossword puzzles, maintaining a well-stocked home library, and nurturing an interest in current affairs. While I can’t envision them partaking in a trivia night over beer and nachos, I can imagine their enthusiasm in swiftly answering historical or music questions, like those related to World War II or Nat King Cole.
I’ve always considered myself fortunate to be constantly surrounded by family, not just immediate but across generations. Unlike many who travel great distances to spend fleeting moments with family, we have been blessed with unhindered access to our loved ones, from parents to grandchildren—a treasure I deeply cherish.
This profound appreciation extends to the support my brother provided our parents, my commitment to offering daycare assistance whenever needed, and my eagerness to drop everything for a night of trivial pursuit with any of our children.