Sisters, Strategy and a Splash of Mahjong
Sometimes life’s sweetest surprises come when we say yes to something new. Last November, my friend Marilyn invited me to join her weekly Mahjong group. I had heard of the game before but never played. To be honest, I wasn’t sure my brain was up for learning something so complicated, but I decided to take a chance. That “yes” became the beginning of new friendships, plenty of laughter, and even a deeper bond with my sister.
Karen, the hostess, became my patient instructor. She welcomed me warmly, sat me down at the table, and began teaching me the ropes. Within minutes, my head was spinning! Mahjong is no ordinary game, it’s part memory, part strategy, part focus, and a whole lot of fun.
If you’ve never played before, here’s the crash course: there are three suits—Craks, Bams, and Dots, plus winds (north, south, east, west), flowers, and jokers. Each tile has to be called out when played like “3 Bam.” The problem, I kept forgetting what was what. At one point, I even called the Bams “Rumbles” (to the group’s amusement). At first, the learning curve was steep. After a while, my brain felt like it had hit full capacity and I’d have to quit for the day. But little by little, I started to catch on.
Karen soon left town for the winter, and after only three or four lessons I was left to figure things out by trial and error (or by fire). I was painfully slow at the table, and while most of the women were patient, I could feel a few silently urging me to hurry up. Sometimes, I even had to sneak into another room with a non-player to ask if my strategy was correct.
But persistence paid off. Week after week, my understanding grew. Eventually, I started winning, maybe just one or two games a day, but each win felt like a major triumph. Since our group plays for quarters, I loved the rare moments when I collected a few coins instead of handing them out.
A few months later, during a phone call, I discovered that my sister had also started learning Mahjong. Suddenly, we had something brand new to bond over. We swapped stories about our challenges, strategies, and tiny victories.
When I recently planned a trip to visit her and my mom, we promised ourselves lots of Mahjong and boy, did we deliver! We played with her group, practiced doubles for hours a day, and laughed until our sides hurt. Every game brought us closer, not just as sisters, but as friends learning side by side. We laughed, competed, and sharpened our skills together.
As if things couldn’t get better, my sister had a surprise waiting. She had purchased a floating Mahjong table for her pool. Imagine this: a sunny day, cocktails in hand, a set of tiles floating between us, and two sisters giggling like kids in the water.
The weather was cool and cloudy for most of my trip, so the table stayed unused until the very last day. But when the sun and heat finally broke through, we wasted no time. Pool Mahjong was pure joy, silly, refreshing, and unforgettable, it may just be the greatest invention ever.
Looking back, I’m so grateful I said yes to something new. Mahjong didn’t just challenge my brain; it gave me new friendships, priceless laughter, and a beautiful way to bond with my sister.
It’s funny how one simple decision can ripple into so many blessings. Life is full of these opportunities, little invitations to step outside our comfort zones and discover joy in unexpected places.
I’ll leave you with this question: What’s something new you could say yes to this season? Maybe it’s a game, a class, or a hobby. Say yes. Take the leap. You never know what kind of magic it might bring into your life.
Sisters, strategy and a splash of Mahjong was just what this girl needed in her life even though I didn’t know it.
xo Sheryl
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