game in East Central Mississippi, members of three dif-
ferent Meridian groups noted that they know people who
have more recently started learning the game.
There has even been discussion of adding the game
as a demonstration event at the Beijing 2022 Winter
Olympics.
A new tile is added to the game each year, providing
an additional sense of intrigue and fluidity. The annual
addition changes the game somewhat, providing new
opportunities for a mahjong win.
“They change the hands a little bit every year,” Meyer
said. “I think it would be a little boring if we played the
same sets of hands all the time. Learning a new card is
part of what keeps it interesting.”
More than winning and losing
Mitchell said she doesn’t think her group worries too
much about winning or losing.
“We do bet quarters but that’s not really the focus,” she
said. “It’s a way to keep ourselves mentally alert and to
have fun. Sometimes, you can go the whole day and never
win, and then the next time you might win four or five in
a row. You just never know because it’s some mental skill
and some luck. You just have to be in it for the long haul
and know that there will be ups and downs.”
While the game can be mentally demanding, Mitchell
said she thinks it’s a game that is worth a lifetime of dedi-
cation.
“It’s not like tennis – something that you can do up to a
certain age,” she said. “I really do believe that all of us are
going to be playing it when we are in the nursing home,
and it will still be a blast.”
“The game really has some
important benefits. To play
and play well, you have to be
engaged in what you are doing
– you have to think. There’s
offense and defense and there
are layers to the game.”
Anne Meyer
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