The play known as Lumber Cart Moves started innocently enough with a “Papa, do you have any fancy cart moves?”

Pushing Rowan, my Granddaughter, along on the six-wheeled lumber cart, I replied, “I’ve got awesome cart moves.”

“Can you show me?” the three-year-old begged as we locked eyes.

“Hold on!” I ordered and zigged the cart to the left and zagged it to the right.

“That’s a pretty good move!” she squealed, “got any more?”

“How about a spin?”

“Do it again, Papa! I love to be dizzy.”

And on we went with fancy cart moves, laughing together, alone in the lumberyard’s wide aisle.

This game went on for years–virtually every time she visited a store with me that had “a big cart,” we played the lumber cart moves game. Only a few things could keep us from playing–too many other shoppers in our way, there was no available cart, or we were in a hurry. None of those things were definite game-stoppers. Sometimes we made “tiny secret cart moves” if the store was crowded, or we used a regular shopping cart if we couldn’t lay hands on a big one, or we decided to be late for whatever was limiting our playtime.

Lumber Cart Moves Wrap Up

But definite game-stoppers do exist. Rowan moved 4.5 hours away a year ago, and she’s getting older. I’m not sure she’ll be interested in the game the next time we have an opportunity to play. There’s a good chance we’ll never play the lumber cart moves game together again.

And that’s OK–time marches on, and kids outgrow certain games and types of play.

I may have a great-granddaughter to play the game with on some high-tech hover-cart.

[12/28/2022 Update] I’ve been updating the Play Sightings posts at Playvolution HQ today. Rereading this one flooded me with warm, snuggly, loving memories of that beautiful little girl and the silly moments we shared. I’m almost crying on my keyboard. The power of play to connect people should never be underestimated. Nor should its ability to wire deep and lasting memories.

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