A.K.A. Winding Up to Wind Down

2014/12/23 @06h45 HK time

Dearly beloved, greetings and salutations.

I can say, in no uncertain terms,that as much as 2014 has blurred by, it was also jam packed with highs, lows, lefts and rights. You will forgive me for not writing sooner. Admittedly, I’d make a terrible penpal and need to work on that.

My full report in the forthcoming Year in Review post aims to cover all that we’ve accomplished this year, but in the meantime, some holiday funtimes and shenanigans with Papa Bear, the Mothership, and Sestra Menor for the rest of the year shall provide us with writing fodder aplenty.

In today’s post…

Mahjong and #selfiesticks

The trill of women’s laughter and carefree chatter coupled with the clinking of mahjong tiles were among the melodious sounds of my youth. I would drift away from the other children playing, sometimes crawl beneath the tables, a virtual forest of fabrics; dresses, skirts, slacks. I’d slink my way between willowy trunks of stockinged legs.

In the spring of 2004, my cousin Raf and his lovely wife Blanche, had a game night at their apartment. Actual non-video related board games such as Taboo, Cranium, and the like. It was nearing the witching hour (three o’clock in the morning for you non-Wiccans) when Raf decided to teach me how to play Mahjong. A neophyte himself, it was a lovely experience of trial and error in what can (possibly erroneously) be described as fusion of dominos and cribbage. Whether or not we actually and successfully played the game, the sound and motion of the tiles crashing together before being put in their proper places, is still a fond memory in my recent history.

Therefore, this being the third time back to Hong Kong, I am determined to purchase what I failed to do so previously. I want a Mahjong set, reasonably sized and at an expertly haggled price, to commemorate this adventure.

The Sestra, a one-time naysayer to such devices, had a sudden itch that needed scratching, that put her on a quest to find a #selfiestick. And quest she did–not that it was a difficult task with all the night markets around–nary one hour from the time of our arrival, resulting in the many snapped photos interlaced with her exhuberant, “This will NEVER get old!”

So, gentle readers of the interwebs, we will bring to you, many photos, many memories, and many a #happyfuntimes on our adventures in Hong Kong.

Until next time…