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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Many are unaware even of what mahjongg is, confused by its foreign sounding name, believing it to be some form of martial arts or perhaps a way to move furniture around. However, the game has caught on in Walpole. Every Monday at 1:30 p.m. a group of women get together for some mental stimulation, as well as the incredible social aspect of the game.
If there is any misconception that mahjongg is a boring game, this group will change opinions immediately. The spitfire quartet that gathered this previous Monday weren’t shy to poke fun at one another, yell across the room at those playing Mexican Dominos at nearby tables, and even dole out self-deprecating comments every few minutes. As one woman reached across the table, she asked to please pass another tile as she couldn’t reach.
The response?
“Never say please, it’s gimme!”
There was no lack of energy and enthusiasm present in these women.
Mahjongg was brought to Walpole by a woman named Evelyn Hodge, who began the group. “She’s the one that taught us all to play. She’s passed away now, but she started it all,” one of the group said. While Hodge passed away in October of 2007, her legacy lives on through this group. The women explained what they knew about the game, though their knowledge came exclusively from Hodge, who was quite the mahjongg guru in her time. “There are different suits, like in cards, and the goal is to get one of the hands on the cards,” one woman said. “There’s an association in New York you order the cards from, and they’re different every year.”
In honor of Hodge, the women keep an article written by the Walpole Times over ten years ago in their mahjongg case. The piece illustrates Hodge’s importance, and the benefits of the game. “It’s supposed to really stimulate the mind,” one woman said. “It hasn’t helped me any, but I’m just speaking for myself!”
In response to this, another player piped up, “No, it was me!” They began to hoot and holler at this thought, clearly enjoying each other’s company too much to imagine leaving due to any of their personalities.
