by Judy Hom, Janet Gee, Nisei Ski Club Members
It was a cloudy June morning that eventually cleared to sunny skies at Judy’s and Winston’s spacious backyard in Castro Valley. Sixteen eager Mah Jong learners gathered to become more skilled, with beginners starting with the basics, to intermediates fine-tuning on the more complicated traditional scoring.
Of course, first we had to dine on all the scrumptious eats that everyone brought to the potluck, including spam musubi, inari sushi, grilled veggies, fruit and green salads, mapo tofu, pork, spaghetti, garlic bread, meat balls, apple and chocolate carrot cakes.
After we were sufficiently stuffed, at Jeanne’s table, newbie Roland took advantage of his beginner’s luck to the dismay of Kelvin, Toy and Tony. Judy started her intermediate’s table playing in clockwise direction, but Jackie. Joyce, Curtis, and Greg didn’t have any trouble reversing to the correct counter-clockwise direction mid-way through the afternoon. Curtis had the highest scoring hand of the day at the intermediate table.
Angie imparted her trove of mah jong knowledge to her table of beginner players, Lennie, Carol, Amy, and Mark including practices like not going to the bathroom and washing away your luck. Janet’s table of Bev, David, Sarah and Sandy had lots of neuron-growing discussions on strategy related to points; Sarah gave up her cold seat to Winston, who turned up the heat MJ’ing on a string of winning hands, with Rod delivering a few assists.
A fun time was had by all, such that everyone stayed two hours past the planned ending time to keep playing! Thanks to the Fong’s for their wonderful organization and hospitality, and to Sandy who donated MJ sets to two lucky attendees. CLICK ON EACH PICTURE TO SEE LARGE FORMAT
Even the pooches had a great time together.
