Any opportunity to stray off the beaten path, is a good opportunity. This is the area where whimsical fun having can be found, and this week's adventure lies within the old, pixelated computer game of Oregon Trail.
The kids are studying The Westward Expansion. For those of you who might not be familiar with American history, this is was when everyone started to travel west in the 1800's across the country. It was a terribly difficult journey. Many pioneers and their families died of dysontary and cholera. A lot of them drown while trying to cross rivers, and of course there were a lot of accidents. We just read how one poor boy fell from the wagon and his head was crushed by a wheel! I know what you're thinking...the wagons weren't going fast...but I guess it's harder than you think to stop 12 oxen in a hurry.
I'm genuinely surprised so many people actually made it, but I guess the promise of land and potential gold is enough to drive a lot of people.
Well, with all of this talk about going West, I very fond memory popped into my head. When I was young we played a computer game called Oregon Trail. It was like a role playing game where you named your characters, bought supplies, and headed west on the infamous trail and tested your luck!
It was fun and ridiculous as the scenerios you faced hardly ever went in your favor. I think my character died a few minutes in, and I had to sit there while the rest of my class trickled off.
So of course, I was soooo tickled pink when I Googled it and found a version my kids could play! Of course, they're much older than I was, but come on...who doesn't like a good fun challenge full of death and disease!?
I tried it out first, while the kids were busy writing journal entries, and I couldn't keep my crap together. It was just like I remembered, and soon enough I had everyone derailed.
I had chosen to be a farmer without a lot of thought. Turns out, that was the worst option. I only had $400 to make the journey, and I also didn't buy and food. I thought maybe my family packed some from home? Haha nope.
As the trail continued, my stats kept going down, and sickness ran like wildfire!
I was pretty proud of myself for crossing all the rivers with success. If you're wondering, I chose the option to float the wagon instead of trying to walk the oxen. Keep that in your back pocket for when you play.
However, in the end, I didn't make it.
After I was done, the kids jumped on the computer. It cracked them up that everything was so pixelated, and I think they enjoyed the bit of nostalgia. I would say it was a definite hit...they played it for the rest of the day...and again the next. Unlike me, they managed to each make it to Oregon at least once. They did face wagon fires, lost children (literally their kids were lost somewhere along the trail), more disease, exhaustion, wrecks and drowning.
If it was really like this...man...how did they do it? How is anyone living west of the Mississippi before there were cars?
So, I would like to end this post with a big shout out to our ancestors brave enough to make the journey!
Thank you for sharing this with me!
Much love,
Stacie D