Chess

[vandy]

I just set up a weekly chess date with Ed. I'm not sure what exactly inspired me to want to play chess again. Perhaps I just feel like using that part of my brain more. Or maybe it is the season. One of the Thanksgiving traditions in my parents' house when I was growing up was chess. Most years we would drive down to Eugene and bring back our family friend, Tom Cherrytree. He would spend the night with us, and sometimes the weekend. After Thanksgiving dinner my dad and Tom would pull out the chess board dad made as his masters project in metalworking, stick match sticks in the bishops so they could tell them apart from the knights at a glance (because of course the chess set wasn't *normal* and easy to follow), and play chess. I would spend hours watching them, and eventually I learned to play too. This after dinner chess game always reminded me of the masculine tradition of retiring for claret and cigars, and it felt special to be allowed access to that ritual.

Comments

[gwynnin.livejournal.com]

Cool! It does seem a bit like the season for it -- it's all wet and rainy here, and that plus your story have me thinking of hazel trees and strange old men with beards (;) ) and holidays at your place. Speaking of holidays, it doesn't look like we're going to be able to make it out this one. I know I've told such great stories about it, don't you want to visit phily while we're still here? :)

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

Sadly the $$ it is lacking. I would totally visit you in a minute if I had enough extra cash to make it workable! I just used up my last bit of savings on a glass blowing workshop. Hopefully I will have more saved up in time for Pensic...

You guys should move back here. Miss you! Jamie and Cat are filling the "young and practically family" slot these days. While I like them and all, you are more fun to talk stick with. ;-) Plus you are missing all the artsy fun and house building.

[gwynnin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hear you... I'm still looking for work, it's being a bitch.

We want to come back, maybe it can happen soon... I keep on getting visions of being back. Hopefully after Italy or something -- all of the artsy and building stuff makes me so envious.