From the Editor: Fun & Games

As a woman in the year 2026, I have taken a very controversial stance: I am anti-mahjong—for myself, at least. That’s right. I’m a mom who doesn’t play mahjong. Everyone, take a deep breath.

I am finally ready to speak my truth.

For years now, I have watched from the sidelines as my peers have reveled in the joy of this tile-based game. I have listened to their promises that I “would love it.” I have nodded and assured them that I would learn to play. Heck, I have even written stories exploring the trend and what makes it so special.

I have done my due diligence and have concluded that it is not for me.

Here’s the thing: I am pretty firmly anti-game. I have been this way for as long as I can remember.

As children, my sister and I never played anything that would yield a winner or loser—perhaps the key to our close relationship and shockingly minimal fighting. I quit horseback riding, dance and piano as soon as an element of competition came into the mix. I never felt the joy my classmates seemed to feel during a mandated game of dodgeball, and I never voluntarily joined such pursuits during recess. Even in college, I didn’t engage in beer pong or any ot...