What are the odds?

 

My daughter Zoe and her partner Quiller are visiting us from New Zealand this month. It’s fun to see them both and catch up on their travel stories.

Quiller is from Prince Edward Island. They recently spent some time in Thailand playing with monkeys and tasting the local foods. Now they plan to travel to New York to sell Christmas trees for the holiday season. An interesting game they play is called “What are the odds?”

It’s played like this…. you can challenge the other to try an odd food or do something crazy by saying, “What are the odds you will eat this or drink that or do this?” The other person picks the odds, and then you count to three and say a number that falls within the range of numbers.

If you both say the same number, the challenger has to take the challenge. In my day I think this was called “Rock, Paper, Scissors” but I like this version better.

For example: What are the odds I would eat a piece of chocolate?…1. What are the odds I would eat a chocolate covered ant?…1 to 100! What are the odds I would run to the mailbox in bare feet? Maybe 1 to 1000. What are the odds I would do the dishes? Perhaps 1 to 10. It’s simple, but you have to be prepared to face the consequences if you win or lose the odds. I lost while drinking a Caesar (Canadian Bloody Mary). Have you ever chugged a bloody Mary? Too spicy for me!

 

Think of all the fun we could have if everyone played “What are the odds?” What are the odds my husband will make dinner tonight? What are the odds I will eat zucchini muffins for breakfast? What are the odds I can get a free tank of gas at Lanttos?

The truth is I will miss Zoe and Quiller. It’s been a really nice visit. They bring a lot of laughter into the house. What are the odds I will make it to New Zealand for a visit next year? Hopefully a done deal! I like those odds.

“When something is important enough,
you do it even if the odds
are not in your favor.”
~Elon Musk

Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.