Kate said Challenge
Mind is blank.
I enjoy a good challenge; however, not when it comes to physical challenges. I am not a runner like my friend Anita. I am not a swimmer or a marathon walker – so please don’t challenge me with those things.
But. I do like a challenge of words.
Let’s play scrabble.
Now, that is a great challenge. I was raised playing Scrabble. When I was a young Mom with two of my own, I also watched my sister’s three kids. She always worked outside the home and I was a SAHM. At least once a week, my Grandma and I would load up the kids and take them to a park to play. I can picture the park but I’m quite unsure of its name. It was in South Florida.
We would open the car doors and the five piled out and ran to the playground equipment: swings, slides, monkey bars, carousel, and what have you. We would open the trunk and methodically unload the tablecloth, the Scrabble game, The cooler jug with Kool-Aid, and the various snacks we prepared for both the children and us.
Our favorite picnic table
You know the one, under the tree with a clear view of the kids.
Let the challenge begin
Now, you have to know my Grandma. She and Grandpa (he was in heaven by this time) were competitive game players. Yahtzee, Scrabble, Uno and I’m sure there were more but I cannot remember.
We set up one end of the table as a snack station for the kiddos and the other end, with the tablecloth, the Scrabble board, the tiles, the score pad and pen, and the Scrabble word book – let not the two sections mingle!
Ready? Choose your tiles
She had a homemade drawstring bag for the tiles – this was long before Scrabble Deluxe – whoever had closest to an A went first. No passing. You had to play unless you were willing to lose your turn by exchanging tiles. The Word Book could only be used for a spell challenge.
Let the CHALLENGE begin
No one wanted to play Scrabble with Grandma and me – they said “we played for blood.” We WERE serious players. She taught me well, no one wants to play Scrabble with me either.
Oh Grandma – those were the days I miss the most. I loved you then. I might even love you more now.
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine.
Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance.Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. Titus 2.1-6 (The Message)
My sweet friend, you are running the most important race of all: the race of faith, the race to lead others to Christ and help them grow in Him by your words and examples. You are a winner!
Let’s pick a time and place -maybe in Heaven- and we’ll do a round of Scrabble ir Uno!
xoxo
Scrabble please, or Yahtzee!
This was great. My husband and I would play Scrabble as newlyweds but he always beat me. (He used to read the dictionary, seriously). Coming here from FMF.
I’ve known a few dictionary readers!!!!
I LOVE scrabble! I am home alone so I play Words With Friends online. I have never had grandparents- they all died when I was young. I love your post even though it was not written in 5 minutes. I went a couple minutes over myself- it was my first time posting on this website.
Terri
Aka Tess
Welcome to FMF! Probably 8 minutes because the memories are very fresh!!!
In these days when my words fail me
I think back to day of yore,
and that warming sense, victory!
from Scrabble’s triple-word-score.
I’d find the highest-valued tiles,
and think, oh, yes, with all my might
while trying to control my smiles,
making sure I spelled it right.
Once in place, I’d dance in glee,
jump about, hoot and holler
like a hugely caffeinated monkey,
or a dog just freed from collar.
And then Barb had to burst my bubble:
“You, know, dear, there’s an ‘o’ in ‘trouble…”
dun dun dun dun. You be in truble.
I agree, word challenges are fun, physical ones not so much! I do enjoy exercise, but I don’t like competitive sport at all!
Lesley, we’re on the same team!
My grandma was a Scrabble master, too! She and my older sister played for hours. I love this story (and I will never challenge you to a Scrabble game!).
And, I promise never to challenge you to a sprint. LOL
Your words painted a picture I can see so well. Wonderful memories!
Now, you KNOW that is music to one’s ear!!!! And, from my creative friend it is a concert!
I love Scrabble! I grew up playing Rook with my grandparents. We got pretty competitive sometimes
I sure do know what you mean!!!!
What fun memories! No one liked to play Scrabble with me either, but not because I won, but because I took it too seriously and went crazy! ha. Now Yatzee, I can never refuse a good game of that!
Grandma and Grandpa did too – I think it rubbed off on me. I mean, words….right. Think about it!
I will not play Scrabble with my sister…and I am a very good speller. Her and Grandma did play for blood. I was working so I didn’t know all this stuff!
I miss her too Sue. What wisdom we could get from her today. She would even know how to deal with the weirdness going on in this world today.
Some day in heaven? I will challenge Susan and Grandma Emily to a game of Scrabble! Let’s see the prize to the winner? A walk down the gold paved road!
Did I not include this in the book of Memoir?