Wednesday evening, my mother went over to one of the retirement complex's commons rooms for her regular game of dominoes with some of her friends and neighbors. They asked me to come over and observe, and maybe even play a couple of rounds with them.
When I got there, they had already started. At the last minute, I had grabbed my camera. I asked them if I could take their picture, and I snapped one before anybody could get self-conscious or say no.
It's obvious that Jean, MA (my mother, in the center of the picture), Joanie, Lynn, and Agnes were having a good time. There's a nice atmosphere around the game table. I didn't participate as a player, but I did get a good understanding of the rules of the game.
I used to play dominoes with my father. At four people, with seven dominoes each, there are two teams playing against each other. It involves a lot of strategy to beat the other team. A very interesting game that way. I'm not aware of any rule when there are fewer or more than four people.
ReplyDeleteYour mother looks very good.
Ahhhhhhhh! So great to see your mother! I'm sure that these regular dominoes get-togethers must be great for exercising everyone's brains and keeping them mentally fit. So important to keep up. Love seeing people having a good time-- and, your mother must love having you there :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a great and very natural photo.
ReplyDeleteThe women around the dominoes table were laughing more about the idea that I wanted to take their picture than anything else, right at that moment. Lynn, with back to camera, is Jean's daughter. Agnes is the one with her head back, really laughing. I've known her for a few years now. I'm not sure how many of my mother's friends and neighbors look at my blog now and then.
DeleteThat's a very happy photo.
ReplyDeleteI've watched many a game of dominoes, even played it long ago, but I can't remember how it goes.
Dominoes is still played in many of the pubs here in Derbyshire. Sets of dominoes are usually kicking around on windowsills or shelves and you just help yourself and get started.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy a game myself occasionally, my favourite version being "fives and threes", where you can only put down a domino if the resulting sum at both ends adds up to a something divisible by five or three.
It did wonders for my arithmetic skills when I was at school!
That looks like Mexican Train dominoes that I play with friends once a month. Lots of laughter and cut throat strategy are involved! MA looks like she is enjoying herself in that lovely sun-filled room with her friends.
ReplyDeleteMA says they just call it "the train" and they play as often as three times a week. There's a penny involved.
DeleteGreat atmosphere just looking quickly at that photo. Your mother and her friends look really good and so sprite.
ReplyDeleteMy sister in France introduced us to "Triominos" (triangular dominos). It is so much fun to play, particularly on rainy days.
Lovely photograph, Ken.
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas a friend bought us a set of double dominoes where you can get up to twelve spots at each end. We haven't played them yet!
What a charming photo!
ReplyDeleteThere used to be pub dominoes leagues in Yorkshire, playing fives and threes. By gum there were some dust-ups, mainly between one chap and his partner. O' course, it were men only in them days. P.
ReplyDeleteIn Dewsbury, at a 9-spot dominoes match I saw an elderly [by our current age range standard measure] gent slam his dominoes down on the table...
ReplyDeleteslowly stand up, pick up his almost full pint glass...
and empty it over his partner, before storming out of the pub.
Yes, he did get barred the next time he came in!!
No, I don't think that the domino partnership continued...
nor, probably any friendship!
But...
what a waste of good beer!!