Holding on

Holding on to the last little signs of summer with this beautiful boutique of fresh flowers. Soon enough, we’ll have our first frost, and these beauties will disappear until another year. There’s something about fresh flowers that makes me smile, especially when I know their days are numbered. They’re a little reminder to appreciate the beauty around us while we still have it.

Maybe in my next life, I’ll learn to enjoy gardening and grow my own fresh flowers. But until then, I’ll happily leave that job to the local farmers and enjoy the spoils of their labor. I love having flowers around the house as I lounge about,  but these days, my calendar seems to fill itself before I even realize what’s happening. Somehow, there never seems to be enough time for everything, and tending to a garden or lounging around just haven't made it to the top of my list. I may have to pencil in a bit of down time. 

I was all set for a quiet night at home when, somehow, my plans took a turn. First, I ended up getting my hair done, and then stayed at the salon for a little Mahjong. My daughter has a few tables set up at her salon and offers a weekly open play, and needed another player... twist my arm. 

I don’t often get the chance to sit down and play Mahjong at a competitive level. Most of the time, I’m playing with beginners, which means I’m in teaching mode rather than focusing on my own game. Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching and watching people learn, but every now and then, it’s fun to put the teacher hat aside and just play. We played a couple of fast-paced games, and I’m happy to report that I won them both! Not a bad way to spend an unexpected evening out.

I had this week off from my regular Mahjong teaching routine, so naturally, it only made sense to fill my evenings with even more Mahjong! Apparently, taking a break from teaching doesn’t necessarily mean taking a break from the game. What can I say? I’ve created my own little Mahjong world, and I seem to be living quite happily in it!

One of my favorite weekly commitments has been my Wednesday game dates with three lovely ladies I’ve been teaching for the past two months. Now, when I say these ladies are a little older, I mean it! Two are in their late 90s, and the third is pushing 89. I’m not entirely sure what I was thinking when I agreed to teach them, but I promised we’d play together and that I’d help them learn the game. 

I’ll admit, those first few weeks tested my patience. Mahjong has plenty of rules, strategies, and moving pieces to keep track of, and learning it can be challenging at any age. Trying to teach three ladies who have lived nearly a century each has certainly been an experience! But somewhere along the way, I have learned the importance of routine, having something to look forward to and started appreciating the joy of simply spending time together.

They’re learning, slowly but surely, and that’s what matters. More importantly, they’re having fun, enjoying the company, and looking forward to their Wednesday game date. And honestly, isn’t that what it’s all about? We don’t always have to master something, win the game, or get everything right to enjoy the experience. Sometimes, showing up, laughing a little, and having something to look forward to is more than enough.

I sure hope I have something to look forward to when I’m 97! Maybe I’ll be sitting around a Mahjong table, giving some young whippersnapper a run for her money. Or maybe I’ll be the one needing a little extra help remembering the rules! Either way, I hope I’m still curious enough to try something new, social enough to keep making connections, and lucky enough to have people willing to share a few laughs along the way.

So here’s to fresh flowers, unexpected evenings, a few Mahjong victories, and the wonderful reminder that life doesn’t stop being an adventure just because we get older. Summer may be over, but there’s still plenty of beauty, laughter, and fun to be found in the days ahead. We just have to be willing to show up and enjoy it.

“It takes a long time to grow young.” — Pablo Picasso