“Get Me!”

 

“Get Me!” has quickly become Charlotte and Luke’s new favorite game.

 

It consists of running frantically around the circle in our basement playroom created by the stairway/storage closet.  It’s popularity has no doubt been driven by the several consecutive days of freezing temperatures that have forced us inside and in search of new ways to release energy.

 

In its purest form, “Get Me!” is more basic than even ‘hide and seek’ because there’s no hiding involved.  And for the most part, my kids don’t even really care if they’re caught (although they do greatly enjoy the resulting ticklefest).  They love to run (while screaming, squealing, laughing, and, of course, yelling “Get me!”)

 

“Get Me!” also has various permutations that involve princes, princes, knights, and dragons (guess who’s who?); dinosaurs; giants (large and small); and lions and other wild creatures.  There are also occasionally physical props – the popper (that classic push/pull noisemaking toy), wings and various other dress-ups, and puppets, usually animals making the appropriate sounds (although a mooing sheep has been known to participate.).

 

“Get Me!” is great fun and good exercise.  Each lap is about 35 feet (yes, I did measure it), which means that three and a half laps is the equivalent of a 40 yard dash, and nine laps is just over the length of a football field.

 

I estimate that each game of “Get Me!” results in at least 15 laps (over 500 feet), and that we play an average of three times a day (1,500 feet), minimum.  If we extrapolate through the winter (three months), we will be running an approximate total of 135,000 feet (actually, the kids will be running 135,000 feet – Karen and I will be running less since both of us don’t play every time.)

 

Which means that Charlotte and Luke will be running almost 26 miles this winter – nearly the length of a marathon – entirely on a course defined by a small circle in our basement. 

Similarly, they will be traveling the equivalent of each of the following:

• The height of Mount Everest (29,029 ft) over four times;
• The length of the Golden Gate bridge (8,981 ft) over 15 times;
• The length of the Brooklyn bridge (6,927 ft) almost 20 times;
• The height of the Eiffel tower (about 1,000 ft) 135 times.

Go figure.

 

When we’re not downstairs, Charlotte will frequently declare, with great excitement, “Let’s play ‘Get Me!’” and head for the stairs, followed closely by her little brother as he repeats, “Get me! Get me!”  As soon as Luke’s feet touch the basement floor, he’s off, exclaiming “Run, Run!” while looking back to make sure we’re right behind him.

 

I can now officially declare that our kids have us running in circles, both literally and figuratively.

 

I hope you enjoyed today’s serving of ‘Mac & Cheese.’