The Game of Life

Zero-sum is a situation in game theory in which one person's gain is equivalent to another's loss.  A zero-sum game may have as few as two players or as many as millions of participants. 



When my kids (especially my boys) were young we spent much of the summer playing board games.  Life, Risk and Monopoly were favorites.  I thought it was good for them.  It required strategic thinking, ambition and patience.  These games can take hours or days to complete.

Over the years I've changed my mind.  If you read this blog regularly you know I've become sort of incensed with Monopoly. And their newer concept Ms. Monopoly drove me over the edge.  And now they've come up with the cheaters version.

(As a side note, you regular readers also know that I've always had issues with Barbie.)

Since the beginning of time we humans have been filled with fear and a need to gain control.  And now we're feeling this way 24-7, and for good reason. Last Sunday my minister, David Miller, preached on the theme:  Life With God.  He talked about board games and especially "The Game of Life" where only the winner retires in Millionaire Estates.

Using the Prodigal Son scripture he painted the picture of how the older son was steaming mad because he did all the right stuff while the younger kid messed up big time but was still welcomed with open arms.  Nothing "Zero-sum" about this story.

You know one of my favorite things to contemplate is the nature of God.  David dealt directly with this by giving us some examples like how we develop principles and formulas, and deal making (I'll do all of these good things and God will bless me, right?")and my very least favorite of all "Prosperity Theology."

We continue to be confused about the difference between being and doing, between having it all and sharing.  But, for me, I know that Life, Risk, or Monopoly or Thunderball type thinking will not help me rack up points and is not my ticket to being the winner.

So, what is the point?  It's all about relationships.  I'm afraid of many things right now and I've always had a need to be in control.  But the nature of God is mysterious.  I know there are things I'll never figure out in this life.

But, at my best, whenever I'm in pain, exhausted and scared, I know God is with me.  Always has been and always will be.  And I'm very much aware that we're all in this life together.


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My Literary Buddy is Gone

Symbolically, another library burned down a while back because the legendary Jane Casselberry passed away at age 95.

She's been in my life for many decades.  Couldn't say we were close friends but we "got" each other and the last ten years or so have been the best because she was my constant literary buddy.

I first met Jane and her husband, Len, when my husband Ken and I went to Community United Methodist Church in Casselberry.  They were quite a couple.  To me, Len was a smart, kind, fun, quirky guy.  For as long as I knew him I never knew what he did for a living.  He was mysterious.

Jane, on the other hand, was a writer all of her life.  She wrote for the Sanford Herald for more than 25 years.  She wrote and edited everything from business news to obituaries.  And she was active in everything.  She served all all kinds of boards.  She was always "up."

Jane and Len met in high school in Winter Park, Florida, and I was told that, since Len didn't have access to a phone, he climbed a telephone pole and taped into the line to get in touch with Jane.

They married during WWII and moved to Casselberry,  a town just north of Orlando, that Len's dad founded in 1927.  Casselberry now has a population 30,000 people.

And, along the way she and Len had five children who are all outstanding in their own right - and they took excellent care of their parents - who lived almost 10 decades.

But the reason her passing has been my own personal loss is because, for the last several years, we corresponded regularly, sometimes daily, mostly on social media but in other ways as well.  She consistently commented on every blog entry I wrote.  Always smart.  Always funny.  Always interested.  Always interesting. Right up to the very end of her long life.

Despite, to me, being very different people, Jane and Len had an amazing marriage and were constant companions.  Len died a couple of years ago and, while she was devastated, Jane never missed a beat in our correspondence and her interest in the world and all those around her.

Once, a long time ago, Jane and Len, Ken and I went out to dinner.  Len told us this story.  They were in a plane headed for Hawaii when the plane developed engine trouble.    As the plane, began to dive, they had to prepare for a crash landing in the Pacific.  With their heads between their legs and tightly holding hands Len said, "Jane, we're either going to Hawaii or to heaven.  But we're going together."

That time they made it to Hawaii - but it helps me to know that, even though they had to wait two years - this time they made it to heaven.

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Paranoid Pandemic Fun Day

I've not been well for a while so, along with the obsessive mask wearing and social distancing, I've been staying home and practicing my new hobby; washing my hands a silly number of times a day.   At least I don't have to take them off first like this Lego guy.

This strange illness I currently have (non-Covid related) causes mini panic attacks.  Paranoia abounds.  Besides this, along with many of you,  I am doing my best trying to comfort folks every day who are in much worse shape than I am.

But my current big problem is my hair.

I suspect my neighbors have been wishing I'd cover my head with a paper bag like Charlie Brown did when he thought his head had turned into a baseball.

So, since I'm feeling better, but after much handwringing, I decided to venture out for a haircut.  But, of course, I was worried and grilled my friends about their various hair cut experiences, not to mention grilling the hairdresser like Elaine did on the Seinfeld episode where she conducted an extensive check list interview with her boyfriend to determine if he was "Sponge worthy."

Yesterday morning I headed for the salon.  My stylist met me at the door of this large, beautifully appointed salon.  She and I were the only two people there.  She was even more Covid alert than me, which was impressive.  It was all good.  I didn't panic.

The salon shares a (very crowded) parking lot with Panera Bread.  I backed my car out and right square in the middle of the one way travel lane my car promptly died.  I was crossways in the lane.  Blocking traffic.

But still no panic.  I called Panera.  A young man came out and I suggested if he could get a couple of people they could push the car into the parking space behind me.  He left and came back with a girl and they did the job.  (Yeah Girl Power!) I tried to tip them $20 but they refused to accept it.

I called AAA and the tow truck arrived shortly.  He jump started the dead-as-a-doornail battery but could not sell me a new one so I had to drive home with this battery on life support.

But still no panic!

Once I got home I called the proper AAA person for installing a battery and an hour later I had a healthy car - and a cute haircut.

Next I called the manager of Panera to tell him about these kids who saved me from an angry mob, and saved his lunch crowd, and refused a $20 tip.  That was fun.

Then I contacted AAA to praise the guys who rescued me as well.

Every one of these people, including my hairdresser,  wore masks and practiced kindness.  All in all, a very good day.


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