Brains and backgammon

July 27, 2014

clockWe’ve got some time on our hands. More than we ever used to.

2014-07-07 18.27.07 Time that M and I now spend fiddling with our various remotes.

Cable, Roku, DVR–they’re a time suck.  Plus, we don’t like many of the same movies or programs. So we’re flying solo.

2014-07-07 18.28.06Riley is always pointing out that I spend too much time on the computer. Alone.

Time that would be better spent doing something more interesting.

And then, I thought about something M and I used to do together when were young marrieds.

No, not that. Although, yeah, that too.

This:

2014-07-07 18.22.46Way back in my brain were memories of happy nights we spent playing backgammon. So, I acquired a set and the other night, we gave it  a go.

“I have absolutely no memory of playing this game,” M said, perusing the detailed, fine-print instructions.

“I remember a little,” I said. “Just not the rules, exactly.”

We struggled for a while with the game instructions. Directions that were a piece of cake in our 20s now seemed intimidating and difficult.

Were we that much smarter when we were young?

But as we began playing,  I remembered a little more. And even some strategy.

As we finished a game, I asked, “So, now do you remember it?”

“Not at all,” M. said. “Nada.”

I felt a little relief, since I, too, have those brain freezes in which things that I’d done before seem foreign.

It’s normal, I know, at this age, but that doesn’t make it any more palatable.

It did help that I won, though.

Slaughtered him.

There’s still life in the old girl, after all.

The game of backgammon.

I highly recommend it.

16 comments on “Brains and backgammon
  1. Laura Kennedy says:

    We play backgammon every day! I also played when I was young, and I had the same experience of Not Remembering that you did, but after a while the memories (and strategies) started to come back. Keep playing!

    I am a little more enthusiastic than Ken–actually, I’m addicted! But luckily he’s a good sport. And a great husband.

    Now, if I could just find somebody to play poker with & teach me dominoes. I have a fancy-schmancy box of pieces for each game but no takers so far.

  2. Lana says:

    I completely forgot about backgammon! Great game. My 95 year old grandfather swears that his mind is still sharp from all the games he has played/still plays – and I never argue with him!

  3. Tina says:

    I never played this… we played lot of scrabble and monopoly!!

  4. Loved this. So perfectly expresses the Then/Now state I’m often in!

  5. Sara says:

    I LOVE BACKGAMMON. And had kind of forgotten all about it. And the rules have left my melon. But I remember loving this – my grandmother taught me. If this truly does get one’s brain working agin then i’m in. And my kids would really enjoy it, I bet.

  6. Jennifer says:

    We love backgammon! Thanks for the reminder!

  7. Are you sure this isn’t some strange euphemism? It was just your anniversary AND birthday!

  8. Kathy says:

    It seems like years since I have played backgammon (of course because it has been). I loved backgammon. Also liked to play Scrabble and Parcheesi. Now you have me thinking I may need to find some board games.
    Thanks for sharing. Certainly brought back some good memories

  9. Last spring my husband and I got out the backgammon board, and neither of us could remember how to play. Directions found on the internet were not that helpful either!

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