Today I return to my blog assignment after making arrangements for my Mother to come for Rosh Hashanah. She is a little intimidated by computers and her town doesn't have a travel agent anymore, so if I want her here with us for " The Holidays," I am the one who has to get online. Not a big deal in the greater scheme of things to be sure. It is actually my pleasure to do so, as I get her pretty much all to myself this way! What is a big deal though is this one seemingly simple task, that my Mother can't or won't perform herself just baffles me.
While pondering this simple task, my mind turns toward my weekly Technology in Jewish Education lectures, Epic Adventures and my intense motivation to succeed in life. A very strange connection between these seemingly unconnected entities to be sure! It is however quite simple. My Mother was my role model growing up. A young woman left to raise two small children on her own after my beloved Father passed. She proved that you could succeed at just about anything against many obstacles. Especially if there was something very specific and important that had to be done. She never failed to amaze me. She made sure we had a roof over our heads, food on the table, we participated in sports, scouting, went to Temple services regularly, Hebrew School, Sunday School, piano lessons, choir, youth groups.... She was the first to volunteer in Sisterhood, helped sew uniform vests and sashes for scouting, lead and baked for bake sales and was Mom to many kids in our neighborhood who were latch key kids. All while working 2, sometimes 3 jobs. Not to mention that she also managed to earn a college education with a perfect grade point average and become an RN.
Well, this week while watching a TED video of Jane Mc Gonigal titled "Gaming can make a Better World." http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonicgal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.htm I gained a keen insight into my Mom. Jane points out that in gaming there is a specific goal in the game and that players have an urgent optimism: they need to act immediately and have a virtual hope for success in attaining the goal at hand. We weave a tighter social fabric, have stronger connections with the people who play by the same rules and "play with us" or are doing the same thing at the same time with us. This is what she deems to produce my Mother's blissful productivity( of which she is rightfully proud) and her ever "eye-brow up" ah- ha super powered hopefulness of gaining what we call the "epic win". Which of course for her was making it through the game called life. Her version is very last century but a familiar one to many single parents even in this the 21st C!
As Jews we are taught that we need to be ever active in looking for ways to participate in tikkun olam (repairing our world). Thus I have been spurred into action to improve the New Year for everyone, I have goggled and binged and I have a few suggestions for Rosh Hashanah themed games. Since I am sure that we all want to do a little to help weave a tighter Jewish social fabric for the New Year. Let's try follow Dr. McGonigal's hypothesis and see if it has any validity for us. Gaming can build a better world, or so she says...
The first is to go through your entire list of friends on your smart phone and invite them to each play a simple game of words with friends ( www.wordswithfriends,com), but using only words or events that have to do with the new year: Shofar, apples, honey, facts about the holiday such as the day the holiday begins (the first of Tishri), where the shofar comes from, appropriate greetings and stuff like that. If you need some ammunition you can check out
www.teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tiresources/units/Byrnes-celebratins/rosh.html
.For those who are kids at heart there are new games that are easy to find at www.torahtots.com/holidays/rosh/roshfng.htm : jigsaw puzzles, sliding puzzles, online paint and prints for the whole family, and a great online version of the word find game! All kid tested and Mom approved (me, not my Mom, LOL).
My last suggestion which is sure to help build stronger relationships for the New Year is a New Year E-Card. There are eight available at no charge at www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/549387/jewish/High_Holidays.htm .
Now, I am not sure that I can get my Mom to participate in gaming with me online this Rosh Hashanah, or that she will think that gaming will help repair the world, but I may be wrong.. She is always up for a good puzzle and always enjoys that "ah-ha" moment at the end when the last piece fits neatly into place and the goal at hand is accomplished. She always has.
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