Some Mail and Some Games

I am about to fuse together two completely different trains of thought. Consider it a 2 for 1 deal after my lack of blogging over the past month or so. Everyone loves a Twofer!!


First off. I’d like to share a little story of my week. My pigeon hole (mailbox) at SPEC has 2 primary functions. It serves as a place where Mags (our office lady) puts mail addressed to me. It also serves as a general storage area for random junk. (I work in the main SPEC building but live in another one next door.)

I’ll be honest in saying that the latter of those two functions is the more popular. Beyond the monthly bank statement or an occasional note from a fellow volunteer, mail I receive is pretty few and far between……until January hit. This rush of mail SHOULD have hit in December. Why I am just NOW receiving a letter Stefan addressed the 14th of December is beyond me. But I don’t care. Between my mom, Gretchen, Stefan, Nikki, and the Zauggs, I think I got a total of 7 birthday/Christmas cards!! (most arriving when I got back in January by no fault of my loving relatives). How awesome is that!

On to my story of this week---- my birthday card from Stefan arrived this week. As I tore it open and found that he included a Sheetz magnet, I began to cry. A lot. I don’t think I EVER have gotten a birthday card from my brother. And just like reading my other cards, there is something special about my family’s handwriting. Its script I don’t see that often, and its surprisingly comforting. All my cards (including ones from Connie P. and Stephani!) are now hung proudly on my wall. Thanks to those who bombarded me with cards this season. I am thankful…through my tears!



TOPIC CHANGE!!

I’d just like to give another shout out to Sue A. Diehm. There is no doubt in my mind that Sue Diehm (and her Outdoor Recreation Bachelors degree…haha) instilled in me a love of games that remains central in my life. I bring this up because I was reminded of a very simple fact this weekend on retreat. Board games, card games, outdoor games, puzzles etc. have a way of bringing people together. Maybe my love for gaming makes me a little biased- but I really think its true. Even if sitting down and playing a board game wouldn’t be your dream Friday evening, most people at least have enough of a competitive nature to get sucked into playing. This weekend I brought out SET and Bananagrams (speed scrabble) and rounded up a nice little congregation of 13 yr olds who really enjoyed playing. We had so much fun!! (I finally found a really good way to explain SET!!) It felt like a Sunday or Friday evening at Camp Luther.

I like to think that the stakes are a lot less when playing a card/board game compared to a sport. People are not as likely to turn beat red with embarrassment or not try for fear of failure. Of course, that is coming from a gal with little to no athletic bones in her body…but with a gaming-spirit that was fostered from a young age! I’ve come a long way from Racko, Disney Yahtzee, Labyrinth, and Discovery Toys games. I’m taking my love-of-games international- with flourishing results!

(I’d like to conclude by saying that if you are my friend and get married in the next few
years, your wedding gift may or may not include 2 wooden-boxed classic board games.
You’re welcome.)



My 23rd Birthday scene. Complete with Bananagrams.