I'm in Peoria Arizona

Last night, Tom and I flew down to see Sam, Sarah, Elliot (6) and Louis (3). They moved from SLC to Phoenix the end of July, which has put a hole in our lives.

This morning I met the boys in the kitchen and Elliot said, "Grandma, will you play chess with me?"

"Yes, I will," I said. "You might have to teach me again, because I haven't played for a long time."

He said he would when he came home from school.

Tom taught me how to play Chess after we moved into our first apartment on 418 Beta Street, #7 at the University of Utah. We played for six straight months every night and every night I lost. Six months of losing.

Then one lucky night, I checkmated him in four moves. 4! Tom was astonished.

I was elated. "That's it, " I said. "I'm never playing Chess with you again." And I laughed at him. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, a derisive laugh. Cackle cackle.

And I never did play Chess with him again.

But I will play with Elliot and I will try to beat him, but I have a feeling I'll be defeated. Elliot loves Chess. I suspect that's because he's good at it. All I want for him is to have a memory of playing Chess with his Grandmother. Everyone wins that one.