Mar
9
2016
March ninth was the first day this year we played Scrabble in our yard. We were in the middle of a heat wave for this time of the year. I counted seventeen wide open purple crocuses and today one yellow primrose opened with more on the way. I know the temperature will get colder and more seasonal but I am enjoying this burst of spring.
May
16
2015
It is a gift we have an activity we both enjoy regularly. We have a fierce Scrabble Rivalry. And sometimes I win. And sometimes she wins. Neither of us get bored for each game is different. We play almost every night. I don’t take that activity for granted. It is a gift to both of us. I am amazed the inventor of Scrabble thought out this game so well. It is always challenging. A lot of our games go down to the last move or two. Lopsided scores happen less frequently.
Mar
25
2014
Tilla joined me in my bed last night. My wife and I had just completed a game of Scrabble and I lost again. I was feeling completely demoralized. It was only a game. Nevertheless, I was pretty depressed and I went straight to bed. Tilla followed me and jumped on the bed. This time he gave me room on the bed to lie on the right side. This was unusual behavior for him. He stayed there till I fell asleep. I believe he wanted to comfort me. I wrapped my arm around his body as I fell asleep. I was glad he was there.
Nov
7
2013
Every night we play a game of scrabble. It is a fierce rivalry. Often it goes down to the last turn or two before we can declare a winner. I taught her everything I know about playing the game and getting more points. I think she has learned her lessons well for she beats me all too often.
We play a open game with a computerized scrabble dictionary. It is more fun that way. We use a deluxe game which swivels although it is “patched” together with duct tape. There is one “build” allowed each game. In other words you are allowed once a game to enter your seven scrabble letters in the dictionary to see whether you can come up with a seven letter word, for there is a bonus of fifty points if you use all your letters in one turn. This is such a powerful “weapon” that we limit its use to once in each game. We have come up with some strange words that way. I really think she has become a better player than me, though we seem to take turns in winning. I hate losing.
Oct
11
2013
Part of our yard was covered with pine needles. It happens every fall. We have four large white pine trees clumped together. There were thousands, maybe millions, of brown pine needles that fell to the ground. In fact, a few days ago we were playing a game of scrabble in our yard and there was an avalanche of pine needles upon us. It amazed me there were so many. This happens every Autumn–this shower of needles.
Mar
30
2013
My wife and I have a fierce scrabble rivalry. We play about once a week. When we were courting I would bring my Scrabble game and we might play three games in a row. She was intimated by me at first: she lost ten games in a row and thought she would never beat me. At first, she thought it was mercenary to count the points in a word. I told her that was the whole idea making points not just words. I taught her how to play better. It was really logic I was teaching her—how to use the premiums on the board better. She knew she had arrived when she once beat me ten games in a row. We use a Scrabble computer dictionary and play an “open” game allowing each of us to consult it any time. I really believe her vocabulary is bigger. She says I am a better player. I don’t think so. We have heated games and sometimes the winner goes down to the last turn or two. It is only by grace I have a live in Scrabble opponent.
Oct
5
2011
There is nothing like being in the sunshine. After a week of gloomy, rainy weather today the sky was blue and it even hit seventy. My wife was depressed and tried to dispel her gloom. She took a chair, placed it in the sunlight and basked in it. It is too easy to be depressed when the weather is cold and the sun is far away. It was a perfect Autumn day and she decided to enjoy it and went out into our yard. Maybe later I will have a Scrabble game there. The days are running out I can do that. There is nothing like a clear, warm day to cheer you up.
Nov
29
2009
I want to thank the people who are in my life. I know most people will never read this and I will leave out people and I realize Thanksgiving has passed but it is never too late to do this. All these people take the “extra step” and I do not want to take any of them for granted.
First the medical team
(1) Dr. Hume for your kindness and helpfulness
(2) Dr. Cornelius for your patience
(3) Dr. Blake for her thoroughness
(4) Dr. Mital for your ability to listen
Then, P & R and Bob and his team who takes care of our cars and keeps them running smoothly, I thank you for your honesty and competence and for standing up to your work even when it costs you and most of all for always giving me the time of day when I have a question about my vehicle
For both of my sisters Fran and Marilyn who are always there when I need them
For Tony for your support: you know who you are
For Sara, who I have known for over fifteen years and is one of the reasons I still write for her encouragement never abated
For the audience at the local coffeehouse who laughed at my material encouraging me to continue to find the humorous in everyday situations
For Elizabeth Yon wherever you are and the years you spent moderating our writing group
My two kids who years ago I thought I never would have but they came and have blessed me immeasurably
All the many people who God put in my life including those from my small church who have blessed me with their presence
To Sonya who welcomes everyone at the local post office and gives me one more reason why I want to stay in my small town and Perry county
And most of all for my wife who inspires me and still makes me laugh after all these years and came into my life when I was not looking, who thinks she is better than me at Scrabble (she did lose the first ten games she played against me). As an editor she has no equal. My website and blog would never have come into being if it was not for her (she is the webmaster). I “pop” out my bed each morning because of her. And she bakes a pretty “mean” apple pie. She gives me a reason to cook. And that is no small thing. And after six years she still wants to sleep in our bed. I call her “serendipity” although she can really be stubborn (for that matter so can I); nevertheless, I thank the Lord every day for her. I did nothing to deserve her.
Oct
21
2009
“All you want from me is sex and scrabble”!? my wife declared in frustration. I thought that was a funny list. ?Scrabble. Hell, traditionally males have complained about that three letter word going out first.
I lasted that long huh?! Anyway, I had to laugh at that list. There are things to me far more important than that–the clutter and other things that have driven me crazy almost more than the lack of the word that will remain nameless since everyone will know what I am referring to.
There have been countless “NO!”‘s you uttered to me in the short time.
Sex is only one request of many
We have known each other
Only a few years
But forever to me
You simply pretend you did not hear me again for the umpteen time or you have heard the requests so many times so you have become blind to them or now simply you ignore them
Requests I ask you get lost in the infinite clutter and chatter
(and I am sure she will make the same claims: “You don’t listen to me. You never hear me!”)
I still have to laugh at the original statement. All I (???) want from me is sex and scrabble
Really ?scrabble
And ?!sex
The time we spend doing that
Is really a drop in a bucket
Of the time spent together
I must be the crazy male
Just tearing out my hair
Excuse me I do not have much
Anymore
I guess we have been
Married too long
This is the longest seven
Years of my life
?Scrabble!
I guess all wives drive their
Husband crazy
I am just one
Of a long line
At least that is
What my doctor says
Jun
12
2009
I love garage sales. I had the grand total of four dollars in my pocket. I bought a large print Bible for two dollars. I was thrilled. I also bought another Scrabble game for a dollar. Scrabble is my favorite game and I was not going to turn down the purchase for one dollar. She claimed all the pieces were there and they were.
I also bought a box of four puzzles–the kind you put together. It even had the solutions if you wanted to cheat. I knew my wife would love the puzzles.
I actually was short one dollar but I promised the lady (who is also a waitress at the nearby diner) I would give her the missing dollar another day and she agreed.
Garage sales are like serendipity. You never know what you are going to find. You end up buying “treasures” sometimes because you never ever would have paid the full price for that item. There are always surprises.
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