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| OHCC LIVING | NOVEMBER 2023 | 47 GOLF on a Pool Table Wander into the Billiards Room early on any weekday afternoon for the past decade, and you will find several sharks playing the mysterious game of Golf. Yes, on a pool table. Long ago it was a two-person game with each player trying to sink his ball in all six pockets, in order. This was surprisingly difficult with many games taking an hour or more. The game morphed over the years, becoming a four-person game, then giving each player two balls to shoot at, and finally adding the 8-ball as a wild card that anyone could use. These changes made Golf the challenging game it is today at OHCC, but they did not make it faster. It's now infamous for sometimes taking TWO hours. Then again, sometimes 15 minutes. The longest game? Three hours! The shortest? Four minutes! On Sept. 28, we held a Golf tournament consisting of two groups of four playing a round-robin format. Each player faced three different opponents in 30-minute playing sessions. After three rounds, Keith Bogost had won all three of his matches. Leo Beeloo, D.D Smith and Charlie Payne each won two matches. Jim Kydd, Janice Pelcher, Cal Roe, and Dan Wilkerson won fewer games and were eliminated from the cash rounds. Charlie beat Leo while Keith beat D.D. Keith came from behind to beat Charlie in the final match and take home the top cash prize. Recent Events: Oct. 5: Cut Throat Lesson Oct. 12: Cut Throat Tournament Oct. 26: Spot Shot Lesson Nov. 2: Annual Membership Meeting and 8-Ball Club Championship ~ Written by Cal Roe Billiards Mahjongg Club An online MahJongg site that I subscribe to had a question posted this week regarding talking during a game. Naturally, it piqued my interest. Hey, I can relate to that I thought! We MahJongg players at OHCC routinely wrestle with this same topic. The question was: "How do you deal with a person who talks too much during the game?" The responses poured in! They spanned a wide spectrum of opinions. Some suggested dis-invite the talker from future games. Others stated that the point of getting together was to have fun. Talking is a component of having fun so it should be tolerated. Somewhere in the middle were suggestions regarding setting a house rule that talking should only occur in between games. Another was that talking about the game is the only subject allowed. There were dozens of people who weighed in on this question. The conflicting perspectives addressed one set of dynamics in a private setting. At OHCC, we often share the room with other MahJongg groups. As a result, the dynamics are more complex. Anyone who plays this game knows that it requires concentration, focus and the ability to stay-in-the-moment. Noise of any kind presents distraction. Unlike ambient noise, any distraction might influence the outcome of the game. If we play in a room with others, it is important to be respectful and follow the golden rule. We can have fun while being responsible roommates limiting the noise we produce. The occasional outburst aside, "Shush" in a respectful manner and don't be offended when you end up the "shushee." We all play one of those roles from time to time. Take it to heart and be cognizant of your noise contribution. I promise to do the same. ~ Written by Dawn Edwards e four semi-finalists battling to get to the final match. L-R: Charlie Payne playing Leo Beeloo (who is deep in thought) and D.D. Smith playing Keith Bogost (the eventual winner) If you are looking for a way to reduce stress and anxiety, and a way to increase flexibility and balance, then Tai Chi exercise may be just what the doctor ordered. Originally, Tai Chi was developed for self-defense, but has evolved into a graceful form of exercise. Some describe it as meditation in motion because it promotes serenity through gentle, flowing movements. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. Tai Chi is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion. Tai Chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. It is especially suitable for older adults who otherwise may not exercise. The benefits of Tai Chi may include: decreased stress, improved mood, increased energy, improved flexibility, balance, and agility, and improved muscle strength. OHCC offers a free Tai Chi class each Tuesday and Thursday, 9 to 10 am, in the Abravenal Hall. Each class is led by a video presentation that lasts about 45 minutes. For more information, please contact Lai Mei Strauss at (310) 779-4090. Tai Chi

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