Odd combination perhaps, but it’s what’s on my mind right now. This past Sunday, we celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary. Compared to last year that was a super wonderful party celebration with family and friends followed by a fall trip to Maine, this year was pretty tame. LOL Totally appropriate, too.
We never got around to making a reservation for supper and were surprised to find most places had a 1 to 2 hour wait! Who does that? I mean I’ll wait for 15 maybe 20 minutes, but I won’t wait for any place for an hour or more. I mean that just blows my mind.
Anyway, we ended up a restaurant where we’ve celebrated many past birthdays, Lucile’s. Bob had his traditional salmon, and I had steak. I don’t eat steak often, but my parents always celebrated with steak, so I think it’s in my DNA. 😊
Interestingly, we took no pictures. The ones I’m sharing are all from last year.
Let’s talk about Self-Care. Our ABC affiliate does lots of good stories about healthy living and you know I love the Blue Zones information. One of the tests I took showed that I don’t do enough socializing—not enough fun and games.
Well, I don’t. I’m a self-confessed workaholic. There is always some project that needs my attention. Between the many and varied tasks for writing and publishing a book, I do a lot of work at my church with Presbyterian Women and our Outreach Committee and a new committee I’m chairing about being a Matthew 25 Church. Look for a whole blog on that subject sometime soon.
You know all about my Noom experience and walking 10 K + steps every day. Those are all important pieces of self-care. But the doing nothing just for fun? I’m not too good at that.
So anyway, this summer the church has something we’re calling Terrific Tuesdays. This is a chance to come together for projects, fun and food.
Tuesday was our first gathering, and I attended to learn about Mah Jongg.
Now I love to play games, I just normally only get to do that with my granddaughter Sarah, a big gamer herself. Some of our favorite games are Chess, which she is teaching me, and Word Salad, an expanded Charades type game, and these in the pic.
Also, Corn Hole–did you know there are national competitions in Corn Hole? I only just discovered that fact.
Anyway, I am choosing to do something for myself, even though I don’t have time for fun and games because of the book, a lesson I’m teaching in Sunday School this coming Sunday, and getting this post ready. 🙂 I’m going to do it anyway.
(I started writing this on Monday and now it’s Wednesday.)
OMG! Yesterday, my mind was blown just looking at the pictures on the tiles (which don’t show in this pic) and hearing all the strange new terms. But what fun. I’ll be returning next week.
Interestingly, I had a group of women playing Mah Jongg in ACT OF TRUST, Book 2 The Second Chances Series. On one of our trips to Maine, we’d stopped at a small cafe. About 8 women were gathered around tables plaing and laughing. I went over to make conversation (because that’s what we authors do! LOL) and they told me what they were playing. I just learned today while walking at the Mall with a friend that the games you can play change every year, so you never get bored. At this point, I don’t see boredom becoming a problem for me. 🙂 The rules are very complex. It’s a bit like learning a new language. But it’s fun to be with friends and new people leaning a new thing and just hunging out.
Are you a gamer? What do you do to take care of yourself? As always I’d Love to hear from you.
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Happy 51st Anniversary, Marsha and Bob!
I grew up playing card games, specifically Sheepshead, a German game. I love playing Settlers of Catan. I think I will be playing more of it in the near future. We are moving 10 minutes away from our kids. They all play Catan. And we sold our house yesterday. Yes!!
Bill and I would both like to learn to play Mah Jongg. We looked on YouTube how to play and that made me change my mind fast. But because of your post, I will give it a try again.
You ARE a workaholic or you wouldn’t have so many books out. Enjoy the Terrific Tuesdays. 🙂
Best wishes with everything.
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Hey, Susan. I’m just back from the day with Sarah. She beat me most of the times in whatever we played. I’m afraid at some point she won’t want to play with me. Not enough challenge. LOL I’ve never heard of those two games you mentioned. Do find a place where there is someone to guide you through MJ, but I got the whole concept in just two hours–not the intricasies or knowing what everything was, but I got the concept. I know you and Bill can do it. Congrats on selling the house. I know the move will be bittersweet, but being so near your kids and grands will make up for the loss. Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂
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I love the idea you realize you are a workaholic, but have decided to fit in games and have fun. We all should do that. I saw a program on Alzheimer’s. The doctor said the best way to keep ALZ away is to learn something, making new connections in your brain. Don’t do the same old thing. You must learn something e.g. a new language. Yes we play games but have backed off a bit since COVID. We love Pegs and Jokers board game, Mexican Train with Dominoes, Rummikube. And UNO with our granddaughter, but not loving that since she wins all the time! We like to play croquet too. We will be celebrating our 52nd anniversary on Tuesday!! Time flies,doesn’t it? We’ll be going to a talk at the library about shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. (I have to go because I am the social event director for Friends of the Library who provides the refreshments.) So it will be a “working” date on our anniversary.
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Happy Anniversary, Janet and G.T.!! 🙂
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Hey, JQ. Happy Anniversary to you, too. I remember we are close in date if not years. LOL YOu are so right about learning new things to keep the little connecetions making new connections in our brains. I’ve not heard of Pegs & Jokers. I’ve heard of Mexican Train with Dominoes, but not plaid. I’ve played Bunko with Dominoes, so fun. Uno is one of my favorite games with Sarah, too, and I can just about hold my own on that game. I remember playing croquet with my Dad. He would knock your ball to kingdom come! 🙂 Now my favorite is Corn Hole. Thanks for doing the Friends of the Library thing. Libraries need those groups. And thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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I play mahjong and love it!!! Love it! Challenges your brain so much. And we play with futures and blanks. Makes for so many opportunities. It is a GREAT game.
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Hey, Vicki. I don’t know what futures and blanks are yet. I find it interesting that it changes yearly. Such a complext game. I believe it will keep my brain going until I don’t need it any more. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by. :0
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Hello Marsha, wishing you a belated happy anniversary! We loved games in our house when I was growing up, and when my children were at home. We played Mah Jongg regularly with a Chinese friend. I love the beautiful pieces. I haven’t played it for a while but you’ve made me want to get the set out again 🙂 Connect 4 was also a big favourite in our house. Happy playing!
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Hey, Helena. How fun that you’ve played Mah Jongg, too. I tell you, it’s really like learning a new language at first, but I’ll get there. I love Connect 4, even when Sarah beats me which is more often than I beat her. LOL Looking forward to playing more games when we go on our family vacation this summer. Thanks so much for stoppinb by. 🙂
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Happy Anniversary! Our family likes to play hearts when we get together. 🙂
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Great picture. My husband and I went to a Golden Couples Party the
City of Hurst puts on for those married 50 years or more. We won the prize at our table, the flower arrangement, because we’d been married the most years – 65,
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