Virgo
There are 100 letters in a SCRABBLE game. We counted from the list on the Cafe del Sol community Scrabble game board. But our count didn't match what was in the letter bag, 99. “As long as it’s not the Q, the U, or Z. I think I could live without one N,” I told Rosemary. She hoped the missing letter was an O.
So we played with 99. She got a SCRABBLE BINGO, worth an extra 50 points. I did pretty well considering that I had all vowels for several turns in a row. Rosemary agreed to let me trade them in, a Mara rule and one that Rosemary uses at her house. But it felt too much like cheating, or like what my husband would call “taking a Mulligan,” so I refused the offer. “I like the challenge of making something out of nothing,” I said with slightly clenched teeth.
While in the café we ran into an unnamed friend, aka Zebulon Swift. 
Zebulon was counting too, engaged in a perfectly legal act of civil disobedience, counting a case full dollar bills and stamping them with messages like: This dollar could help build a new school.
Unlike destroying dollar bills, writing or stamping on them is not illegal, he told us. He would have liked to burn one in a symbolic act of performance art, he continued to explain: One dollar bill that will not go to war. But he learned that was illegal so stamping them was the next best way to make a statement. “Freedom of the press. It’s a good way to talk to a lot of people,” I told him.
My friend likes to blur the lines between fiction and real life because it’s not always one way or the other, he said. He plays music around town as Zebulon Swift, a character in the book he’s written. I’m not sure if which character was stamping the dollars, but I hope to find out. We agreed I would attend one of his schedule musical gigs, learn more about what he’s doing, and write more about him in the future.
Of course Rosemary won the game. Then her curiosity and Virgo nature got the better of her. Wanting to know what letter we played without and didn’t even miss, she laid the letters out in groups and began counting and comparing.
G Whiz. It was a G.
Post note: Hear Zebulon (I don't know what zodiac sign he is) sing HERE. Click and scroll HERE for more Scrabble game antics.
Comments
My absolute favorite game. And what could very well be my absolute favorite place on the planet to take a load off - assuming, of course, I manage to get myself to Floyd in the first place.
Tanya sent me to tell you it's a must that I eventually show my face at the Cafe del Sol. From the way you paint rich vignettes of the experiences and the people, I think I'd love it there.
Posted by: Carmi | February 20, 2009 11:47 AM
The Cafe has been like a reoccurring character on my blog and Floyd has been compared as the Southern version of Northern Exposure more than once.
Posted by: colleen | February 20, 2009 12:21 PM
I never actually knew how many letters a Scrabble game had...learn something every day!
Posted by: June | February 20, 2009 12:44 PM
Is there a list of letters included ina Scrabble box so you know how many of each letter SHOULD be there? I don't think I ever knew that there were 100 tiles in each Scrabble box ....!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | February 20, 2009 3:28 PM
On the side of the box is a list of how many of each letter is in the game. If you count those, it comes to 100. Nothing like mixing a little fun with some detective work, not to mention Zebulon's performance art.
Posted by: colleen | February 20, 2009 3:31 PM
It's been yonks since I played Scrabble! I used to end up with all the impossible letters!
Netchick sent me to say hi.
Posted by: Bobkat | February 20, 2009 6:58 PM
Thanks for the visit! lemme have a look around....
Posted by: gary | February 20, 2009 7:03 PM
I like the letter "G".....I think you better go find the letter or I won't play. xo
Posted by: Sherry | February 20, 2009 7:09 PM
I absolutely love scrabble (boggle takes a close second).
The phrase 'Sam likes to blur the lines between fiction and real life because it’s not always one way or the other' is wonderful. I think I'll adopt it for those squishy moments that beg for multiple interpretations.
I truly enjoy the feel of place in your writings. Someday I'd like to feel that connected to somewhere...
Posted by: mw | February 20, 2009 8:21 PM
I like that guy and his stamper! What a fun idea.
Posted by: SandyCarlson | February 20, 2009 8:30 PM
I hate getting vowels over and over and over! It is hard but like you I just can't trade them in. We have that rule too.
Posted by: Deana | February 20, 2009 9:01 PM
I like the idea of stamping messages on dollar bills. I've seen them adorned with all sort of different messages - from the "Where's George" bill tracking game to personal messages to some long-forgotten recipient. But messages of social significance is a good idea - one I might employ myself someday.
Tanya sent me to deliver a "G" - so here it is.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Althouse | February 21, 2009 3:37 AM
I remember the bubble stamp I GREW HEMP stamped next to Washington and Jefferson. They both did and probably smoked it.
Posted by: colleen | February 21, 2009 9:58 AM
I love that dollar stamping idea.
Posted by: dena | February 21, 2009 10:31 PM
Sam sounds like a bit of a character.. and with a good heart.
Posted by: Col | February 22, 2009 6:31 PM
We fellow Virgos are like that Sandy
Posted by: sandy | February 24, 2009 6:45 AM