Good evening, class

Neither of us are really sure how it happened. What began as an attempt to get a group of women together for a mah jongg tournament evolved into something much different than we anticipated. Now I'm teaching beginners' mah jongg with my friend, Susan, in multiple locations every week. We started with a class in Parkland at Carmela Coffee Co -- a local favorite. We spent a morning at a neighborhood bagel place, tried out another restaurant's outdoor tent, and even started a new class in Delray Beach.

So, where did all of these eager women come from? And what is making them want to learn this addictive game?

Well, it's a number of reasons. From women moving to Florida sans foursome to ones who are ready to surface in public while their friends remain sheltered at home. It's ladies who inherited their mother-in-laws' mah jongg sets to those whose moms have been begging them to learn since their early thirties.

Whatever the reason, it's beshert (Yiddish for destiny). It's beshert because it's giving me purpose. It's beshert because it's a light at the end of the tunnel. It's beshert because my mom would have loved it...every part of it.