If it’s 7:30 p.m. on the East Coast, you’ll find my husband, Gerry, settling in to watch “Jeopardy.” He positions his plated food on the table in his man cave. When the jazzy lead-in tune begins, Gerry’s posture straightens as if to announce: Let the fun begin! (He’s watching reruns, as he can’t bear that […]

I enter morning consciousness: I’m the Ping-Pong Champion (PPC). I exit evening consciousness: I’m not the Ping-Pong Champion (NPPC). I wake up a loser, not a winner. The pattern sometimes doesn’t change and I lose over and over again. NPC, NPC, NPC, NPC. Then Molly hits a slump and I’m PPC. PPC. PPC. PPC! We […]

Game: From Old English gamen, amusement, jest, pastime. I was invited to a birthday party in Butler, Pennsylvania, when I was 6 or 7. I was allowed to walk across Elm Street by myself. My mom had wrapped up a gift.  I could hear the excitement of the other kids even before I knocked on the […]