It was definitely a dark and stormy and cold night, but we had a full house for Bingo night at the Mansion. Maria and I took turns calling out the numbers, our friend Susan Popper helped the residents figure out their cards.

On the way, I stopped at Stewart’s a convenience store chain and got some got gift certificates to pass out to the game winners. I have never played Bingo and needed a little help from the residents in figuring out how to work the ball holder.

The surprise for me is that I was so excited to be there, and had such a good time being there. Several of the residents needed  help, some couldn’t move their fingers quickly, others missed the numbers on their boards that matched the number of the balls.

We backstopped them, laughed with them, cheered them on. There was a sweetness to the game Peggie was intense, Mary was quiet, Wayne was focused, Ellen thought she couldn’t figure it out but she did. As it happened, everybody who came won a game and a free gift certificate, they can get coffee or ice cream or a snack or magazines at Stewart’s, which was a big deal for them, lots of whooping and clapping when they won.

There was something tender about the evening, something cozy and familiar about laughing with these people on this icy, black and snowy night. Maria and Susan felt it too, this was where we belonged Friday night, this was where we wanted to be.

It felt as if we were with the families we never had, we were able to bring much joy and pleasure to people on a winter weekend night when the Mansion was eerily quiet, most of the staff gone, the nightside aides checking on everyone

Something peaceful, something meaningful, something deeply satisfying. They all asked me if I could come back and do Bingo again, and they promised to teach me some other games, and I said I would be delighted to come  back and run some game nights with them. And that is the truth, I would.

It was a very special night for me, and now, at least, I have learned to play Bingo.