I was taught a lesson. Half way through an epic scrabble game.

In the moments after sunset yesterday and just before our marathon loadshitting session, my mom’s baby sister who lives with us called me to the veranda. “Come look at the sky,” she exclaimed. O my word, all hues of pink and purple greeted me. The sunsets at our new abode are special every day.

Youngest asks if we can play scrabble by lamplight. Our days are settling in to a lovely quiet rhythm and we are truly living again. This after weeks of upheaval and upset.

We took out my fathers Scrabble set. I was 12 when he brought the new game home. The letter squares are make of wood and are still in their original plastic bag. So special. I imagine it is one of the few places where I will find his fingerprints, on the inside of the lid which is still the original box. Proof he was here. What a flight of fancy, he passed away in 1976.

With a glass of red wine on hand, we start our challenge. Youngest versus The Brat as I am called, as I was the first grandchild and ‘stole’ her position in the large extended household of my grandparents. A short while into the game, I manage a high score. Youngest summarily gulps down some wine.

The score difference remains substantial and I pick up the Z, which counts 10 points. I laugh as I place it in a not to high scoring row. As I do so, I recollect my fathers words: “In Scrabble, no matter what your high score is, one good placement by your opponent can wipe it out. No place for complacency.” As I reflect, I think it is a worthy life lesson, to boot.

We play on, and then, Youngest picks up a Q, and the top left hand triple word score is open…and she spells out “quit.” Ja, well, I was beaten fair and square, large score in spite.

Youngest laughs her exuberant laugh. “Ha, old age and treachery did the job,” she exclaims, with a twinkle in her eye.

The quote by David Mamet : “Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance, a reminder that in a given situation, people who are older and know how to subtly use misleading methods [= treachery] to defeat younger people who are younger and naïve.

Ah, she lulled me into complacency I realise. A wily witch, Youngest is, Yoda would remark.

We giggled and chattered like two crows on a fence. My husband and daughter excluded from our conversations and banter. A night to remember fondly.

Youngest turns 70 at the end of May. I am 64. I realise our physical bodies are waning, aging, but our spirit, will be 18 till we die. We are not your ‘waiting in the foyer for the lift to heaven’ golden oldies. No sir. We are still full of beans and ideas, and fun and hold a lot of life to live within us.

Old age and treachery is a recipe to beat the odds and keep our souls forever young, don’t you think?

Thanks to Brainyquote I recall these very true adages about age that I wholly subscribe to:

This pearl of wisdom from Sophia Loren, is my favourite: “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”

Others who make my favourite list are:

Adults are obsolete children.- Dr. Seuss

Age is not important unless you’re a cheese. – Helen Hayes

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. – Mark Twain

Youth is wasted on the young. – George Bernard Shaw

I’m happy to report that my inner child is still ageless. – James Broughton

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. – Andrew Carnegie

Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young. Theodore Roosevelt

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. – Henry Ford

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.- Confucius

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.- George Burns

Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art. – Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.- Betty Friedan

Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age. Victor Hugo

Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com
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