2007 ChessI thought I would
paste the photograph above from
Jinnie Kim's photography from the University of Alabama School of
Medicine's Argus Awards a couple of weeks ago. The week prior, we had a
party, and I forgot my chess bag at WorkPlay. Jinnie was kind enough to
pick it up and hold it for me, returning it a week later at the Argus
Awards at the Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A. We had
a few moments, and in a spontaneous moment, set up the board and had a
game.
Even I, who carries a chess board in my car because "one never knows
when a game may erupt," was surprised at Jinnie's willingness to play.
So I hopped up on the edge of the stage where the awards for the evening
were to be presented. And Jinnie, setting up her sophisticated
photography tripod with digital download capability was my counterpart.
In the role, she squeezed off a shot.
There was a Christmas party some one or two years ago when Jinnie and
I were playing a game of chess, and at one point, Cosby Stone took the
pieces over. Jinnie had something to do. Jinnie had been hammering out
good moves. Cosby's were thoughtful, but he had different ideas than
Jinnie.
So Jinnie and I had another game; it was
impromptu and fun.
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
I really
do carry my board around with me wherever I go. I carry it in the car,
in the event that I might get a game. One never knows.
I used to carry it with me to scientific meetings, and hang out in
the hotel lounge with the board all set up, hoping a passerby would stop
for a game. Someone once described this as a Venus Flytrap setup. That
description made me smile, and it still does.
Michelle Downing'll tell you. Stewart
Hill, Michelle, Katrina Julian, Brad Denney
and Lwazi were hanging out in a bar in Cape Town
when I broke out the board. Michelle has since remarked on her lack
of surprise when I might have a chess set handy. There was some time in
the last couple of years when she told others that she saw me break it
out in the unlikeliest of places. Wherever I am, there also is a board
and pieces.
I do love the game of chess, and sometimes the impromptu game on a
moments notice, spontaneity included, makes for a great match.
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
