This weekend, we finally managed to obtain the Wii we promised my college-age brother for Christmas. He came home to pick it up and graciously agreed to let the whole family try it out. I don't know which I'm more sore from - "tennis" or physically restraining my overly enthusiastic youngest brother so he didn't get clocked while my younger sister "golfed."

I've never really been into video games - I have more than enough interests that drain my time and my wallet, thank you. The last gaming system I was really excited about was the Super Nintendo and in my heart of hearts, I still believe the Super NES is the be-all and end-all of video gaming experiences.

But hot-diggety-dang, the Wii is fun. It's even more fun when you play with other people. For once, a commercial didn't lie to me. I now understand why those two Japanese gentlemen would take their tiny car all over the world for the sole purpose of finding more people to play with.

And, though this wasn't mentioned in the commercial, it's even more fun when six of you are sharing the same controller and struggling to overcome your traditional perceptions of video games. Observe:

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Youngest Brother, upon realizing he's losing his tennis match on Wii Sports: Oh. I'm dead.

Me: No, no you're not. This is tennis. You don't die in tennis.

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Mom, trying to "bowl" with the Wii wireless controller: Why isn't this working?

Dad: You just bowl like you normally do.

Mom: I am. Why does the ball keep hooking just before it gets to the pins?

Dad: Because you keep twisting your arm at the last second.

Mom: No I'm not. My arm's straight.

Dad: It's not as straight as you think it is. You're twisting it.

Mom, holding out the controller: Fine. Then you show me how it's done.

Dad, who's never played before and has just been watching us, gets up and stands in front of the TV, one hand holding the controller, the other hand in his pocket.

College-age Brother: You realize that if he gets a strike, we're never going to hear the end of it.

Dad gets a spare. He smirks at Mom and sits back down on the couch.

Mom: Don't even say it.

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College-age Brother is sitting in the chair, watching Younger Sister play. Younger Brother climbs into his lap and gives him a big hug.

Younger Brother: I love you. I love the Wii, too.

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College-age Brother takes the Wii fitness test with his newly-created character: My fitness age is . . . 78?!

Me: It'd be really cool if your character's hair automatically turned gray after that. 

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College-age Brother packed up the Wii the next afternoon to take it back to school with him and left it in the family room while he got the rest of his stuff. He returned to discover Younger Brother lying on the floor, cuddling the box.

Younger Brother: Do you have to take the Wii back? I'm going to miss it. 

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It looks like we may have to get a second Wii not only to appease Younger Brother but also for Mom. Bowling wasn't quite her thing, but she had a grand old time with golf and tennis. In the event we do get a Wii just for the family, Wii Sports will slowly but surely replace real physical activity in our household.

Until then, every time College-age Brother comes home to visit, the first words out of everyone's mouth will be, "Did you bring the Wii?"