Monthly Archives: May 2015

A WONDERFUL SURPRISE…

While waiting for a few of my star students to come over today for some Mah Jongg game play, a package arrived chez moi. I didn’t remember ordering anything and I was very curious as to what this could be. The label told me that this package was from darling Donna in Central California and it made me laugh out loud:

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And then I saw the return address label and laughed even more (and if anyone has orphans of this tile pictured, please let me know so that I can get them to Donna):

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Opening the package I found it filled with wonderful gifts such as two Mah Jongg themed luggage tags and a yummy chocolate candy bar:

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a beautiful “sun catcher” that now is twinkling from my bedroom window:

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the cleverest card that I will keep forever and forever:

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and then finally, the topper that brought tears and tears and tears to my eyes, a beautiful get well card from Donna, Boots, and their entire Wednesday Mah Jongg group:

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I am so touched by these thoughtful and fabulous gifts – along with all of their kind words – sent to me by these wonderful and caring people. I wish I could find the right words to thank you but I don’t think there are any words that could express how I am feeling about the very special, thoughtful, and caring contents in this package. So, all I will say here is thank you a million times over to Donna and Boots – and of course, to the rest of your Wednesday Mah Jongg group. I hope you know what your gifts meant to me.

Oh, and by the way, happy birthday to Boots!!!

SSAMO…once more!

I had to run this posting one more time because I want the three women responsible for this great Stay Strong and Mahj On event to know about some of the comments that came in after I posted information on their successful fundraiser. Not all of the comments have gone to the blog – many of them came directly to me at my email address and they all were filled with raves and thanks and love. However, I was particularly taken by the comments from Gladys Grad who, in the middle of her very busy life was able to take the time to comment so graciously on SSAMO (“What a wonderful and inspiring event. We wish you much success and lots of strength to keep on keeping-on. Please let us know if we can do anything to help you with future events. Sincerely, Gladys Grad Mah Jongg Madness and Mah Jongg Master Points.”) And I was also delighted to see a comment from Joanne Harris who has a shop – Mahjongg Ladies – on Etsy and has so generously offered to donate something for the next SSAMO event (“Hi Ladies, and congratulations on your First Annual Mahj On to support Cancer Wellness Center! Please let me know when your next event will be held, and I’ll be glad to donate something, from my Etsy shop, for the auction or raffle portion of the day. MahjonggLadies on Etsy Joanne Harris.”)

You can see these heartwarming comments and others if you go back to yesterday’s posting.

All this proves what I always say: Mah Jongg people are the nicest people.

Stay Strong Mahj On

This is the clever and wonderful logo from the three young women who have founded Stay Strong and Mahj On. These three women met as interns and developed a strong friendship. Little did they know when they first met that all three of their mothers would face a cancer diagnosis. Alexis Miller, Jordyn Fishman, and Moriah Berry were inspired by their mothers’ strength and courage; they put together a very successful fundraiser last weekend benefitting the nonprofit Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Alexis, Jordyn, and Moriah have told me that they plan to make this an annual event – kudos to them for turning a difficult situation into something very positive. 

Enjoy these photos from the First Annual Stay Strong and Mahj On Fundraiser…

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SSAMO

Stay Strong Mahj On

This is the clever and wonderful logo from the three young women who have founded Stay Strong and Mahj On. These three women met as interns and developed a strong friendship. Little did they know when they first met that all three of their mothers would face a cancer diagnosis. Alexis Miller, Jordyn Fishman, and Moriah Berry were inspired by their mothers’ strength and courage; they put together a very successful fundraiser last weekend benefitting the nonprofit Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Alexis, Jordyn, and Moriah have told me that they plan to make this an annual event – kudos to them for turning a difficult situation into something very positive. 

Enjoy these photos from the First Annual Stay Strong and Mahj On Fundraiser…

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WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY…

Our dear friend Donna told me about an amazing Mah Jongg player by the name of Robin…last night I had the pleasure of speaking with Robin by telephone. 

As I learned, Robin recently moved from Calabasas to the central coast area of California and is living in a temporary community until the home she is building is finished in the late fall. As soon as Robin moved into her new home, she started searching for Mah Jongg games. It seemed there were no players but Robin persisted, a teacher was found, lessons were given, and now Robin has a group playing Mahj with her. Robin also was introduced to Donna and Boots and occasionally plays Mahj with them as well.

So, why am I writing today about Robin? Well, this is a very determined lady – she lost a good deal of her vision ten years ago but that hasn’t stopped her from playing her favorite game. She has devised ways to “see” what is exposed on other players’ racks and what tiles are discarded. She has a special lamp known as an Ott Lite that allows her to clearly view her own tiles.

Yes, where there is a will to play our beloved game, no problem will stand in the way.

Enjoy these photos of a very determined lady!

Hmmm…is it possible that Sir Alex is also a Mah Jongg fan?

2Here you can see the Ott Lite helping Robin along with her super-sized Mah Jongg card.
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HOW DO WE FIND HER?

Have you been looking for Toby Salk, one of our great Mah Jongg teachers? Well, if you happen to be in the Bay Area, specifically Berkeley, just look for a car carrying her fabulous license plate!

License plateI love this license plate!