Through the week, my television fast has not been too much of a challenge. I have had someplace to go most evenings and even when I am home, I can find things to occupy myself for the few hours before bed time. The weekends are harder. Sometimes I wonder what single women who lived alone did in the days before television and radio. I know that their housekeeping chores took much longer than mine do (and their houses were likely much cleaner), but after the chores were done, what did those spinster schoolmarms living out on the plains miles from anyone do in their silent shanties?
Today was a particular challenge. I went to Mass and breakfast as usual this morning, but have not seen or spoken with anyone since then. I had planned to attend Vespers and Benediction at Church this afternoon, but it was cancelled due to the winter storm . . . which also kept me from going out anywhere else. I passed much of the day without much temptation to turn on the tube, but it gets harder toward evening. I had already walked on the treadmill, finished the Sunday paper and one of the book I was reading, spent an excessive amount of time on the internet (primarily listening to Contemporary Christian Artists on YouTube) and did Evening Prayer (since I missed Vespers), so I was ready for something new to do.
One of my breakfast companions, after hearing that I'm going to play games with my siblings next week, asked if I knew how to play Solitaire. She has it on her tablet and cannot figure it out. Of course I know how to play Solitaire, but I don't know how to explain the game without a deck of cards or the computer version in front of me.
This evening when I was thinking of what to do, I remembered the conversation and found a deck of cards. I used to know several solitaire games, but I don't know that I remember them. Actually, my parents - particularly Dad - are the only people that I know that still play solitaire on a regular basis with actual cards. It's a lost art. I played for an hour and while I was shuffling and dealing out the cards, I remembered Grandma Meyer. Widowed in her 50s, she lived alone for many years. Although I know that she had a TV, I'm sure she was not addicted to it as I have been. I remember Dad telling me once how many games of solitaire she knew (although I don't remember the exact number, I'm sure that it was six or more). I know that this was one way that she passed her time and kept her mind sharp. I know that the games I was taught as a child were ones that she knew and played as well.
As I played tonight, I talked a little with Grandma -- I don't remember her very well. I was about 12 when she died. But I know that she was a wonderful Mom and Grandma, a great cook and a lovely, devout woman. I hope that I have inherited some of that from her.
