Tiles

This beautiful Mahjong set caught my eye online, but when it finally arrived, it just didn’t quite make the cut. You know how it goes… sometimes things look much better online than they do in person. And although I do think it's pretty, it just didn't dazzle me like I had hoped it would. 

I had a few gals over for a night of games, and this brand-new set sat untouched on my dining room table. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Betsy requested that we play with my ocean set instead, an oldie but a goodie. I did ask the gals for their input on the new set, but honestly, the fact that we never even cracked open the box told me everything I needed to know. So, back to the store it will go.

It's not as if I need another set anyway, so it's probably just as well. I've actually been enjoying playing with the old, traditional sets lately. There's something to be said for getting back to basics. Some of the fancier sets have become a little tricky to keep track of, with all the creative substitutions for the traditional tiles. On this particular set, the cats were the dragons, the jokers were jewels, and who knows what else had been reinvented! As pretty as these sets can be, sometimes I just want to play Mahjong without having to study the tiles before I can make a move.

Of course, most people really only need one good Mahjong set, but in my defense, I teach the game, so I really do need at least four or five sets. Well, perhaps the word need is a bit dramatic. Let's just say they're useful for business! And being the maximalist that I am, I can always find room for one more. Or two. Although, judging by this latest purchase, maybe it's time to appreciate the treasures I already have rather than adding to the collection. At least that's what I'll tell myself until the next pretty set catches my eye.

Our game night was super fun, with round after round of Mahjong, plenty of chatter, and lots of laughs. Unfortunately, my head just wasn't in the game that night, and for whatever reason, I couldn't seem to pull together a winning hand. It happens! You can know the rules, recognize the possibilities, and play your best, but sometimes the Mahjong gods simply aren't on your side. Thankfully, winning isn't the only reason we gather around the table..... but it sure is more fun when it happens. 

In between hands and conversations, and one annoying fruit fly, we managed to order some monogrammed Dior lip gloss. Because, of course, a girls' night wouldn't be complete without discovering and sharing a few fabulous new things! There's always something being discussed, recommended, or added to someone's shopping cart when a group of gals gets together. We may not always win at Mahjong, but we certainly know how to shop.

Earlier in the evening, I'd taken Betsy along to my spa's open house before we headed back to my house for our game night. We walked in to find lobster rolls, a fresh oyster bar, and all kinds of sweets and treats. Talk about a welcome surprise. We'd already ordered a pizza for our girls' night, but neither of us could resist a little lobster. And wished we could have taken a plate to go as we rushed through the open house on our time crunch. 

We had no time to spare, between the spa's open house, picking up the pizza, and stopping for gas, we had to squeeze everything into the 50 minutes we had available before our guests arrived. Somehow, we managed to pull it all off and make it home before company arrived. 

But the gas station stop turned out to be another unexpected highlight of the evening. When we pulled in, Betsy was completely beside herself to discover that I still have a full-service gas stations here. As the attendant filled my tank and washed my windows, she sat there in disbelief. 

Remember when that was all we had? You pulled up to the pump, someone came out to pump your gas, checked your windows, and sent you on your way. No getting out of the car in the freezing cold, no wrestling with a gas pump, and no wondering whether you were about to spill gasoline on your shoes. We didn't think anything of it back then, but apparently, we've been living a little spoiled here...she's only a few towns over and doesn't have the same service!

It made me laugh, realizing how easily we take some of these little conveniences for granted. Sometimes it takes someone else's surprise to remind us that what feels perfectly ordinary to us might be a little luxury to someone else.

And so, another girls' night came and went, filled with good food, great company, a few shopping discoveries, and plenty of Mahjong. I may be returning the fancy new set, but I'm keeping all the good stuff from the evening... especially my crew of gals. 

And who knows? Maybe sending that Mahjong set back will leave a little room for a new discovery?

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” — Robert Brault