D is for Domino
Ah, the humble domino. Do you remember the little box containing a set of Double-Six dominoes made of wood? As a kid, I didn’t figure there were that many things you could do with them. A game was short–and, I thought, childish, like a super-simplified matching game. The most fun a person could have would be lining them all up and knocking them over. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrt as they fell, one at a time, until the last one went down. You could even make them go around curves, if you did it right!
The first time my in-laws invited us over to play dominoes I couldn’t believe my ears. This was now a party game you invited people to?
They explained these weren’t the dominoes I remembered. That sets now went to Double-Fifteen (and beyond). That they were now made of ivory (or more likely resin). That you could play several different games with a set, like Mexican Train or Muggins.
This I had to see.
To my surprise, I found I enjoyed the new dominoes. Not enough to buy a set for our house, mind you, but enough to keep from eye-rolling when dominoes won out as the chosen party game.
But that’s not the kind of domino that sticks most in my mind. When I began brainstorming the first book in my Green Acres series, I decided to include a border collie. The puppy needed a name, and what better than Domino?
My as-yet-unsold novel Domino’s Game is about a nutritionist hooked on locally grown food, who tries to resist the junk food addict next door, but his dog and a mouse invasion throw them together. (This turned into my first solo published novel, Raspberries and Vinegar.)
Yes, as I got deeper and deeper into writing the story, Domino’s role grew until, in the end, the novel was named after him.
When I prepared one-sheets for conference, I asked my friend Cathy West for permission to use this photo of her pup, Noah, as a stand-in for Domino. Isn’t he adorable?
Tell me a story about dominoes in your life! Mine turned into a real puppy in my debut farm lit novel, Raspberries and Vinegar: A Farm Fresh Romance. See him there in the cover?
Dominoes are great. When my parents visit our set comes out (they gave it to us so they wouldn’t have to bring theirs, LoL) and we’ll spend hours around the table having fun. 🙂 Great memories!! 🙂
What “double” does your set go to, Patty?
Only 12. I vaguely remember Mom mentioning the newer sets, but haven’t seen them… not that I’ve looked. LoL
I’ve never actually played a game of Dominoes, just made things with them.
I love that dog!!!!! I hope that book sells so I can read about him.
Diana
http://www.dianabrandmeyer.com
Your words to God’s ears, Diana! lol. I’m hoping so, too. I love that puppy. He was fun to write.
And you can see I’m not one to brag too much on the game of dominoes, for what it’s worth.
Yonks ago a university had a yearly event where dominoes where made to stand up in long lines and curves, forming a picture from above. Then at a certain time a privileged person got to bump the first domino and all watch as the domino effect happened.
Around my house it usually happened by accident…
Awww! We had a wonderful Border Collie that looked just like that picture. Her name was Lacy and she was a sweetie.
As for the other kind of dominoes… until I was a grown woman I never knew they were useful for anything except stacking up in strange patterns and knocking them down! : )
Lacy is a great Border collie name!
Love that dog! Dominoes, I played as a kid. As an adult could not even remember how. Not familiar with the newer versions but what if you lined up the black and the white and then set off the tumbler effect? Seems like you could make some sort of interesting design if they’re lined up right.
Yes, I think that’s how most of us thought dominoes was played back then!