Things that Cheer Me Up (other than funny reader’s comments on my blog)
Mara and I go to the Scrabble board the way others go to a bar. Scrabble takes our minds of our problems, but it also gives us the opportunity to talk about them. With letters clinking in the bag, we pour out our feelings as we play.
“I’ll tell you a joke,” she said, seeing that I needed to be cheered up, “How many Zen monks does it take to change a light bulb?” I shook my head waiting for the punch line.
“A plumb tree in a garden.”
Bob (the bearded lady) came over to our table to say hello, but Mara and I all but ignored him.
“That didn’t cheer me up. It created more stress. I don’t get it,” I bluntly responded to her joke.
“You’re not supposed to; that’s the point. It’s Zen, Colleen,” she explained. (She told me another, in whispered tones, that did make me laugh, but I can’t print it here.)
“Hi Bob!” I called out, five minutes after he greeted us. He was across the room on the computer now, smiling as he waved. “I’m having a delayed reaction,” I explained to him, laughing.
“Well, that’s a good sign,” I turned back to Mara and said. “I think my sense of humor is starting to come back.” She was looking up a word in the Official Scrabble Dictionary when a scribbled note fell out. It was written in blue crayon on a ripped piece of napkin, addressed specifically to “Mara and Colleen.” “Delane and Amy say Hi,” it read. I smiled remembering that Delane, “Life in Mayberry” blogger from Mount Airy, told me he and his wife had recently been up to visit Floyd and that they checked out the Café Del Sol in person, curious after reading about it on my blog.
Jamie hasn’t been blogging lately. He came over to say hello. I complimented him on how great the Winter Sun web page that he’s been managing looks. His mother is a Scrabble player, in the top 100 in Australia, Mara and I learned. Our neck-and-neck scores suddenly seemed insignificant.
Jamie went back to work. While Mara and I played, we talked about the writer’s workshop we both went to the day before, our sensitivities, the definition of “creative non-fiction,” and the difference between a bulkie and a Kaiser roll. A cigarette break was taken; a couple of chicken salad sandwiches were eaten.
“Look, Colleen! This is for you,” Mara announced, pointing to a Roanoke Times spread on the café’s coffee table. It was a feature story on the role of pink in marketing products to women, and Mara knew of my recent interest in all things pink, especially pink blow-up rafts. 
She turned her feminist nose up at the thought of a bright pink cell phone, but I got a kick out of seeing the Roanoke Times in pink, especially when I picked it up and read this: “The new Samsung E530 pink mobile phone is a girl’s best friend,” a company press release said, “equipped with calorie counter, megapixel camera, shopping list … oh, and it even tells ladies when they’re ovulating.”
Zany had returned. Mara was telling Bernie the Zen joke (see photo above), but he wasn’t laughing either. Chris was telling me about a Roanoke Times commentary on the unreliability of electronic voting. It was written by a mutual friend.
Outside, after our game, and with a Roanoke Times of my own in hand, I gave Mara a big hug and thanked her for cheering me up.
“And it’s hard to feel bad when I win!” I joked to her as I walked across the street.
November 22nd, 2006 5:43 am
Hi Colleen
I love a good game of scrabble gets the grey matter all toned up.’I am so glad you got your sense of humour back, Hahaha
November 22nd, 2006 6:22 am
It sounds like a good game of Scrabble was just what you needed! And it may just be the time of year, and I am trying to glean Christmas present ideas from everyone’s conversations, BUT – maybe that pink phone would cheer you up on a daily basis – hint hint for hubby…
November 22nd, 2006 6:26 am
Oh Good! It came back! And you ewon at Scrabble, too! I’m really happy for you my dear Colleen.
BTW: I had already ordered my Almpmd Butter when I discovered the The shop was in Floyd…so maybe you can tell them we know each other, or the next time I order something I will mention it…Great Place!!
November 22nd, 2006 9:26 am
I would love a game of Scrabble with you! Problem is, I can’t stop at just one game.
November 22nd, 2006 10:08 am
I like the idea of Scrabble being like a bar. The game should come with a tile tender. And there should be different versions–Singles Scrabble, Old Man Scrabble, Dive Scrabble, Sushi Scrabble. Roadhouse Scrabble. They should all come with decent juke boxes. A Scrabble hangover must be hell, however.
November 22nd, 2006 10:15 am
I can just see it now. Get your Scrabble fix at Happy Hour! I never play more than one game in a row, so I don’t usually have the hangover. I’m hungover now from dancing last night. American Dumpster came to Floyd! http://www.americandumpster.com/americandumpster/about/
Johnny Cash was playing in the background as we played our game.
November 22nd, 2006 10:37 am
What a good friend you have!
I’m glad you’re getting your sense of humor back. I miss mine sorely, and I’ve only seen it once or twice!
Happy Thanksgiving, Colleen!
XOXOX
November 22nd, 2006 11:55 am
It’s Zen! I love it. Before my husband surprised me with a notebook computer of my very own I was toying with the idea of purchasing a pink Viao, one of those purchases that a percentage goes to breast cancer research and programs. I am trying to break out of my resistance to pink, “girly” things marketed to females. Trying to expand my horizons in my older years!
I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving. May we all have a new year of many blessings.
November 22nd, 2006 12:10 pm
Nothin’ like a good friend that you can say absolutely anything to, no holds barred, to bring back the zany in everything! Sounds like you’re back, just in time for a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!
November 22nd, 2006 1:26 pm
What a wonderful scene you describe! Someday I am going to get to Floyd, I really am. My only fear is that I’ll never want to leave.
p.s. I don’t get Mara’s joke either, but I like it anyway.
November 22nd, 2006 1:37 pm
I’m glad you’re happier 🙂
November 22nd, 2006 2:50 pm
yes – glad to read your are cheerier!! I haven’t scrabbled in a very long time – perhaps I’ll take that up with my kids this weekend… happy Thanksgiving!!
November 22nd, 2006 3:31 pm
I love the Zen joke! I used to view pink as anti-feminist until I encountered 2 things: (1) the statement (I think in Leslie Feinberg’s book _Transgender Warriors_) that over 100 years ago pink was considered a manly color and blue was considered feminine; and (2) the most vivid, vibrant, take-no-prisoners shade of pink, seen with the help of a speculum.
November 22nd, 2006 4:04 pm
I’d like to know how a phone can tell you if you’re ovulating? And what does it tell ladies like myself who have had those pesky things removed? Would I confuse it so that the camera and calorie counter don’t work? Perhaps it’s best not to find out.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 22nd, 2006 4:49 pm
And those CODE PINK woman are some of the bravest acitivsts I know.
http://www.codepink4peace.org/
November 22nd, 2006 5:54 pm
I think you prove that Scrabble is good for what ails you….better than chicken soup, I’d say.
Hey…..I met Bernie when I was in Floyd at the Cafe del Sol. How neat to see him here and know who he IS.
Glad to see chuckles have returned to your life. Wishing you and Joe a very Happy Thanksgiving, Colleen. Enjoy the day.
November 22nd, 2006 6:09 pm
I haven’t played scrabble in what feels like forever! I used to love playing it! Sounds like you had a fun day though!
November 22nd, 2006 7:56 pm
Bernie is an accomplished musician and Floyd mainstay who meets everybody and anybody and frequently ends up on Floyd …like here: blogs.http://playmoremusictugglesgap.blogspot.com/2006/06/tuggles-gap-playmore-music-lawn.html
November 22nd, 2006 8:50 pm
I’m glad you found the note! It was fun waiting for you to find it. I really liked the step ladder joke from yesterday’s post, that one cracked me up.
November 22nd, 2006 9:38 pm
I was wondering when you would find your little note from Delane and Amy! I waited and waited……
I heard MArtin on the phone with Larry about the show (heard it was most excellent) and I heard “Yeah, Colleen…..yeah she IS a dancing machine!” So I take it you met Larry!
I so hate I didn’t feel like going but I was shocked when Daryl said she didn’t go because she felt bad and it was her sister….that made me feel better!
PS- I think I need a hot pink phone. I want some pink snow boots with little pom poms dangling from my ties!
November 22nd, 2006 11:00 pm
I never sat down once the music started and the waitress kept taking away my beer, thinking someone left it on the table! I enjoyed meeting Larry. I had Cherie point him out. Daryl did come towards the end. I might post about it later.
I loved the ladder joke too!
I haven’t even had my first regular cell phone. I want pink sneakers!
November 22nd, 2006 11:06 pm
Okay…not that it makes it any funnier, but the answer to the joke is: “The plum tree in the garden.” Although it could also be: “The sound of one hand clapping,” or “Form and Emptiness.” Fun game Colleen. Can we do it again soon? xxoo
November 22nd, 2006 11:38 pm
GAWD! I’ve never been good at telling jokes. I’ll fix it!
Game? You say when.
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