Chapter II
Two Years ago
This is another one of those incidents that happened to me bringing up events from the past such as the one I just posted called "Over Five Years Ago". I suppose it is out of sequence for my series of articles, but thought it was interesting and appropriate.
Many times I think that we do not realize the impact we make on others, especially children.
Some two years ago, while I was vacationing during the winter on the gulf coast, I began carrying my laptop into a restaurant that I frequented on a regular basis. I would play on-line chess as I waited on my food. Before long, I had friends, cooks, wait people, people I didn’t even know sitting across from me playing on a small chess board.
One couple who worked there, he as a cook, she as a waitress, asked me to come to their house and play chess with them. On the afternoon that I arrived, their eight year old son watched us play.
I am not the greatest player, but can hold my own and usually win more than I lose. After a few games, the son expressed an interest in learning to play. I taught him the moves and played a couple of games. He actually won one when I let him get into my king row-not on purpose.
For a little background, I also went once a week to a used book store where chess was played in the evening. One night I was asked if I would like to play a young lady. Of course, I sat down and shortly thereafter found my self in check mate. They then told me that she was the Texas state champion for her age group which just happens to be eight.
Things happen and I didn’t get to go south in the winter for a couple of years and even then for only a week. I ran into the parents of the young man who I had taught to play chess. They informed me that he still talked about me and wanted to play me again. They also informed me that he could beat both of them most of the time and had taught his younger brother (now 8) to play chess.
We met in a park on a picnic table and this now 10 year old young man gave me a run for the money.
It makes no difference who won. I just know that I made an impression on a young man in a way I could not have dreamed of if I had tried.
As you read this series of articles on raising children, “A Joy to My Heart”, one thing that you will hear me come back to time and time again is that we must pay attention to our children. We need to give them the respect that we would to any adult and we just might, just might be surprised at the results.
Comments