Clucking Around
The holidays have a way of inviting us back to the table, not just for the food, but for the laughter, the stories, and the moments that become memories before we even realize it. This year, at my brother Jeff and sister-in-law Dee’s house, the air was filled with that unmistakable post-dinner glow. Plates pushed aside, glasses refilled, bellies full, and hearts wide open. It was the perfect setup for something fun. And I had something up my sleeve.
Last year, while attending a four-day women’s golf retreat, I was introduced to a game called Dinosaurs. I was told two things before I arrived: bring lots of quarters… and prepare to laugh. The game was a hilarious mix of horse racing, dice, and cards; it was pure chance, no strategy, no math skills required (thankfully). Everyone could play, and everyone had fun. I knew almost immediately I wanted to recreate that experience someday. However, not with dinosaurs, but with chickens.
I casually mentioned my idea to Jeff months before Christmas something about a game, betting with quarters, and chickens instead of dinosaurs. He gave me that I’m not quite sure what you’re talking about pause, but trusted me enough to go along with it.
Then the universe stepped in. A friend happened to have an extra game board and gifted it to me. All I needed were game pieces, dice, and cards. Easy, right? Well… if you know me, you know I don’t do things halfway.
I went searching for toy chickens and soon had an entire flock. I glued each chicken to a wooden disk and decided, naturally, that every chicken needed a name, written on the bottom, of course. Cluck Norris became the fearless head rooster. He was joined by Thundercluck, Henrietta, Pip, Sprinkles, and several other fine-feathered competitors. I even ordered chicken-themed playing cards and officially named the game, Mother Clucker’s Barnyard Derby.
I told the family one thing before Christmas Day, bring lots of quarters.
After dinner, we gathered around the table, quarters in hand, and I explained the rules. It’s a game of chance, which is exactly what makes it so fun. Dice determined how much you owed to the pot, and cards determined which chicken you were rooting for, and fate did the rest.
Round after round, the room filled with laughter.
Garrett nearly broke his bank two or three times. Andrew and Crystal seemed to owe money on nearly every dice roll. Hannah struck it big not once, but twice, which was especially funny considering she arrived at the table with zero money. Thankfully, her partner Lorenzo came prepared… with $100 worth of singles ready to exchange into quarters. We all wondered what was he doing with that many singles?
The rest of us won and lost about the same amount, but honestly, no one was keeping score. We were too busy cheering for our chickens, groaning when Thundercluck or one of the others betrayed us, or chanting “GO CLUCK NORRIS!” like our lives depended on it.
As I looked around the table at the laughter, the playful competitiveness, the way everyone leaned in, I was reminded of something simple and true, joy doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t require perfection or elaborate plans. Sometimes it just needs a little creativity, a willingness to be silly, and people who are all-in on having fun together.
The holidays aren’t about doing everything “right.” They’re about creating moments that bring us closer. Moments where we laugh until our cheeks hurt. Moments we’ll talk about next year and the year after that.
Mother Clucker’s Barnyard Derby was a hit, and yes, I’ll absolutely be bringing it back next year. Because it wasn’t really about the game at all. It was about connection, playfulness, and letting ourselves be fully present in the joy of the moment.
This season, make room for a little silliness. Create something fun just for the sake of it. Gather your people, pull up a chair, and let yourself laugh. Because sometimes the best memories are made when we’re simply clucking around together.
xo, Sheryl
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