giving up a vice

I smoked for a brief time, but only with a lifesaver, and never before the sun went down. I wasn't a serious smoker. But when John, my boyfriend in 1982, asked me to give it up for a month, I did, and never went back.

I don't drink, except socially. And even then, it's probably some unsophisticated sweetened drink like a Cosmopolitan.

Drugs were fun in my youth, but it's been many years since I've touched anything illegal.

But games can keep me occupied for hours. 

Words With Friends is interactive and social. I have about 40 games going with about 15 people, all of whom I have some connection with (hometown, tv business, past jobs, and friends), although three I've never met.

Solitaire requires zero skill, but because it's so mindless, I play it late at night,  usually while watching Jimmy Fallon. It's better than Ambien.

When I was at Tufts, I became friendly with Toni. She was from Turkey, and arrived at college with a backgammon set. She taught a group of us how to play, and it became something we did often. In fact I bonded with Jeannie — a good friend of mine from Maine — over hundreds of games in her small dorm room, a floor down from mine. But then I graduated and didn't play for years.

In 2001 I found a site called Backgammon Motif, created in 1998 by some guy. I began playing again.  And for some inexplicable reason, this is the only backgammon site I've ever played on. 

I'd find myself playing if I was on hold with Amazon, or Apple, or anyone else.

Or bored.

Or had a few minutes before a scheduled call.

Or had time before I was leaving to be somewhere.

Or for no reason at all.

I wasted a lot of time on this mindless site.

Today I go to play on my new computer. I download Java. And, it doesn't work.  Then I get a message.

At first I think, there must be a way around this. I'm sure I can figure it out.  But then I reconsider. Ya know, it's probably time to give it up. 

I un-bookmark the site and feel liberated. 

Then I email Robin to see if she wants to see a Rolling Stones Exhibit next week. I have a lot more time now.