An ode to an old friend - Scrabble

Scrabble is a beautiful game, specially for elderly people like me. With limited physical energy, I love to play scrabble every evening with my dear friend Puloma. All games make us more fit, energetic and cheerful and Scrabble helps to increase one's vocabulary and sharpens the brain. But like chess, it has some special benefits - in that, it forces us to make the most out of limited options. For the elderly, this is a useful skill to manage everyday life. In early 1970 I was introduced to scrabble by an elderly English lady, named Crystal Rodgers. She went by Mishy (probably a mispronounciation of Missy in India), and was a pioneer in setting up Animals Friends - a sanctuary for the care of hurt, injured, and in general uncared for animals - from dogs, horses, and cows to birds and monkeys. Anything that struggled to survive the crowded streets of the big cities of India. Her organization did great work in Delhi and Jaipur and today lives on in Bangalore as CUPA - Compasion Unlimited, Plus Action. When I met her first she was 80 plus, extremely energetic, active and optimistic. Never thought of retiring and whenever she wanted some quiet restful time, she came to our Delhi University house for a few days. We used to play scrabble every evening. Our young children had great fun to see us absorbed in scrabble. She was also a gifted medium and was able to connect wtih dear departed souls who would interact with us through planchette. After my husband's retirement, we came out from secure university campus life to join the main stream of city life. When my husband passed away and children went abroad to study and settle down, I started feeling little lonely. Every difficulty brings some new opportunity in life. Now I am as old as Mishy and every evening, my friend Puloma comes and we discuss current issues, politics and otherwise with a hot cup of herbal tea in our hand, and then get immersed in playing Scrabble. Before we start the game, my efficient helpers keep the scrabble board and the heavy print version of the Oxford dictionary ready at hand to resolve linguistic challenges. According to the weather, they decide to serve us hot or cold beverage to stimulate our brain power. We like to make the game more collaborative, not competitive. So we focus more on making new and big words. Like a good old friend, Scrabble has returned to my life and brings great cheer. For the last year and a half the world has been passing through a very difficult time. We cannot change the situation easily, but Scrabble has helped greatly in making the most of our limited opportunities for socializing, and in remaining stress free. I have many hobbies, but the evenings are reserved to welcome my dear old friend Scrabble.