The game of Mah-Jongg ('mah-jeurk') looms large in the legend of my family-of-origin.
To me, playing Mah-Jongg means continuing the family tradition!
A good thing.
Mah-Jongg tiles have a bit of weight in the hand and smooth to the touch. The tiles are also pretty to look at.
I love to handle MJ tiles and enjoy the 'click' sound when they are tapped gently together .
As a kid, I slept for a time in the dining-room-converted-into-a-bedroom, right off the kitchen. At least once a week, Mom, Dad and PauPau (grandma) would be joined by relatives and friends to play hours of MJ. The round oak dining table in the kitchen would be pushed aside to make way for the official MJ table, which was set up in the middle of the room. That soothing click of the tiles (along with the chatter and laughter of family and friends) lulled me to sleep as they played into the night...
Though there is some degree of enjoyment to be found playing with Mah-Jong tiles in this manner, it just isn't quite the same as the tactile feel of those real deal tiles.
All you chronically addicted MJ players out there - check this crazy thing out.
How's that for novel/fast/easy/convenient?
Yet - somehow, this fancy new contraption isn't as satisfying as manually shuffling (aka 'sai pai' aka 'washing') and setting up the tiles to form the walls...
Call me old-fashioned when I state: Don't fix what ain't broke.
2 comments:
WE had a very old majong set at the beach, tiles neatly laid on worn red velvet in drawers that slid effortlessly into a dark wood case.
I thought the tiles were amazing with their mysterious, secret symbols and beautiful incised characters and pictures.
All I knew was dominos, but the MJ tiles only went so far in that game.
You're mah-jeurk! ruv you!
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