Snapshots from the Past - Backgammon

Sometimes I find it hard to really take good pics this time of year - it's really busy at work for me, and the fact that it's still dark so early makes the part of the year a bit uninspiring. Okay, the days are getting a little longer as each one passes, and we have snow coming on Saturday...so maybe I can get some good pics from that. But for right now, I have nothing!

So I decided to pull a snapshot from the past. Here is a photo of my grandmother and I playing backgammon on one of her visits to Wisconsin. I always look forward to getting a set or two of backgammon in with her. I am a pretty fair player, so for the most part I can compete well against her, but there are times that she can really put me to shame! I do recall a visit I made to her in Florida where for the first three days she beat me at every game, all of them! I was finally able to adjust my playing style to have a shot against her, and we had a great time.

I can even remember, quite distinctly, playing a game or two of backgammon with her when I was six years old...sitting at the dining table at our house on Old Middleton Road. I don't know how it was possibly for her to play against a six year old, who barely knew how to play, but I can credit her for being one of my first teachers.

Backgammon has a long history with my family. Both my mom and dad play(ed), my grandma on my mom's side (pictured above), my grandpa on my dad's side (pictured playing with my dad), and my uncle Marty (pictured below), as well as countless other aunts and uncles, and great grandparents I never knew...


My dad and my grandfather playing, circa 1977 I believe. This is the board I now play with - my dad gave it to me in 2007, and I cherish every clack of the dice and pieces against the old wooden board.


Dad and I playing a game out at the Union Terrace in Madison. Probably the best place to play a game in the summer...


A previously posted photo of Uncle Marty and I playing a set. I owe him most for teaching me practically everything I know about the game.

Last Vacation Post...

Felipe and I spent a lovely afternoon with my great uncle Marty. Uncle Marty is my paternal grandmother's brother, and the closest I will ever have to a grandfather. He lived for most of my lifetime in California, but several years ago moved back to Midwest. Since then we've been able to enjoy spending a good deal of time together. After graduating from college, I spent seven months living in Madison before I moved to New York City. During that time I saw Uncle Marty about every week, we would chat and play backgammon.

I've played backgammon since I was about six, more realistically since about the age of 12, and learned it mostly from my dad. It was Uncle Marty though that really helped me refine my backgammon skills. I remember the first time I played a set against Uncle Marty, it was before he moved to Madison and was during one of his visits for the family picnic. He beat the pants off of me! I couldn't win a game against him.

At this point, I can hold my own against him, and can even win a set or two! And although we don't get to play weekly any more, we do still enjoy a game or two when I come back to visit. This set...he beat me, two to one. Uncle Marty will be turning 97 years old this August, and by his report - the doctor says he's got the liveliness and health of a 70 year-old!