Two years slipped by and it feels like yesterday. Let’s see,
since my last post more “life stuff” happened. My other parent was in her last
chapter, I changed jobs, kids got married, and lots of travel. Since my last
real active blogging days 4 or 5 years ago, my priorities have changed
dramatically in terms of chess. The time it takes to dedicate to this game is
all a matter of perspective and what you really want out of it. Let’s face it, the
goal of the 2000 rating is a siren call I see from a lot of us “serious players”.
But it requires constant upkeep of
skills, self evaluation, and professional help ( coaches, instructions …well
maybe even therapists). Where to fit all that in when life creates tsunamis
round you making that chess board the lowest of all priorities.
What bothers me, is that the investment of time I committed
to in the past, doesn’t just come back over the board like riding a bicycle. It’s difficult not to fall into a small bit of
self-loathing or pity over the wasted
hours spent learning the game only goes atrophy after months of inactivity. How
did I used to play this opening? What are the themes going into the middle
game? Does the horsey go next to he tower?
( well not that bad… but you get my drift.) It makes it harder to say …”THIS TIME I’M
GOING TO JUMP BACK IN”.
How to feed my passion for this game when so many other
things are demanding my attention? I am trying
out a path through work. I infected some folks at my new company with the
passion for a little competition at work in this century old game. I have
started a weekly club at work and that’s
about all the room I have for it.
Do I want to play in tournaments again?… some day… maybe…
just not now. Moderate weekly sparring
at work is OK for now. Don’t I want to
go after that 2000 USCF rating? Right
now, I’d rather spend a few cycles having fun in this game again.
So I wax nostalgically with the new players at work. Since my father passed, I inherited all his old sets and those from the days of the
Brunswick Chess Club. I spent some time cleaning up 40 year old vintage club
sets from the Drueke Player’s choice series ( weighted) and started bring these
in for the company chess club. I feel
like I am playing on home turf as these were the pieces I cut my teeth on and
learned this game. Going back to my
roots is always a good thing.
No promises, but I may keep you up to date once in a while.
Thanks
Blunderprone
