“Oh the games people play, now.”
The Joe South hit from 1969 makes a fitting soundtrace for the games people will be playing next weekend as part of the Bicentennial Celebration.
Earlier this year, a committee led by Mary Tommelein and Kathy Smith–retired educators and expert organizers–worked with other volunteers to develop the “History- and Cultural-palooza” to mark Tecumseh’s 200th birthday. In addition to student art displays, an open mic concert, and the Timeline Display of Tecumseh’s history in the Sculpture Garden, there will be alumni activities and hands-on demonstrations of lost arts such as yarn dyeing, flintnapping, soap making, spinning, weaving and more.
And games. From pioneer games to mid-century pursuits, young folks and the young-at-heart will have a chance to experience how we all had fun before social media, video games, and Wordle.
Jackie Freeman, local author, will lend her teaching expertise and knowledge demonstrating the early Victorian-era Game of Graces. Other volunteers will help guide gamers in jacks, marbles, jumpsies, jump rope, punch ball, and, for those who still have some flexibility, my mid-century favorite–Twister. I’m sure we’ll be adding some Frisbee to the mix as well. When I look back on my misspent youth, it was filled with monkey bars, baseball, bike rides, dodge ball, kick ball, hopscotch, and four-square. Indoors, we played Mystery Date, Battleship, Connect Four, Stratego, Rook, and Operation, and in the high school cafeteria, there was always a game of Spoons. Now I’m in my 60s and I find myself waking up my brain with Wordle, Connections, Strands, Keywords, and other quiet pursuits to help keep my brain firing on all eight cylinders. I’m sure Twister would be challenging.
A few weeks ago, I interviewed Linda Hewlett and Cynthia Given about their book on the Bicentennial. One of the things the pair wanted to emphasize is that the community is so much more than its first 100 years or even the early decades of the 20th century. As Cynthia said, “we were celebrating not just 1824, but 200 years of history. We have residents that haven’t lived in Tecumseh long, as well as those that have lived here their whole lives.” In both cases, memories don’t go back to pioneer days.
I remember the Sesquicentennial with its parade and pageant, the Brothers of the Brush, the Queen contest, the journeys back in time when our parents and grandparents became nostalgic for a less complicated world. I never understood that nostalgia until I reached my 50s and now that I’m in my 60s, I really get it. But, memory is a tricky thing–was it really all that simple? Or peaceful? Or better? Our parents endured World War II, fallout shelters, the start of the Atomic Age and the Vietnam War. Our grandparents lived through World War I, the Spanish Flu pandemic, the Depression. Each generation has its turbulent times, as has ours, and it makes nostalgia complicated.
Despite our current social and political turbulence, coming together to celebrate something like the bicentennial is a wonderful opportunity to set aside differences and dive into the things that we all share–community, history, memories of our youth. Because, what brings us together will always be stronger than anything that drives us apart.
I hope to see everyone at the High School next Saturday, July 20, from 6-8:30 p.m. for Historical Games. If you’re planning to get down with Twister, don’t forget your bloomers and some IcyHot.
For a complete schedule of events, visit https://www.mytecumseh.org/schedule_of_events.php
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