The List - Mah Jong

Do you have a list of things you plan to do in your lifetime? I keep a list of "to dos" and things I want to learn and slowly but surely I am able to check off an item that has become an accomplishment.

As my children were growing up our family hosted exchange students and we loved the experience. We hosted two students from Japan, one from Germany, one from Brazil and one from Kososvo. All of the experiences were different but with three of the students we were exposed to so many new learning opportunities and became lifelong friends. Our first student was a young man from Japan. He was with us for a full school year and throughout the time he was with us his mother was always sending goodies and gifts for the entire family. As his school year was drawing to an end, his mother sent me a Mother's Day gift that I have always treasured - a mah jong set. Hiroshi tried to teach me how to play before he left us but there wasn't enough game time before he graduated and returned to Japan. Since that time I have had in the back of my mind the hope and desire to find some fellow game players. I recently joined a group on Meet Up that promises to teach others but their meeting place is about 30 miles away.

This week at work I was mentioning to a friend my hope to one day learn the game and oddly he tells me that his grandmother is coming to town on Mother's Day weekend and that she is a master. He promptly calls her and asked if she would be willing to teach a small group how to play the game. Happily she was delighted by the proposal and I have found 2 others to join us in learning the game.

There are so many other "to dos" on my list but for now I am beside myself that I can finally use my beautiful Mother's Day gift from so long ago. Thank you Hiroshi.