I started a Yahoo group called the Diva/Mamas, where naturally-minded mamas in Las Vegas can network and help our kids develop an appreciation and love for Mother Nature. In the desert, it can sometimes feel like a major effort to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.
On Saturday, November 3, Kimberly Chapman (a Diva/Mama) organized an event to coincide with Step It Up 2007 in association with Parents in Action. I came out and joined in the festivities, as did several other Diva/Mamas. It was a lot of fun, and for a good cause.
That afternoon, another Diva/Mama, Mona Celis, organized a fundraiser for The Children’s Tumor Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for Neurofibromatosis (NF). So off we went to play a few rounds of Bingo. This turned out to be a bit hilarious. I am certainly not a professional Bingo player, and I bought three Bingo sheets – one for me, one for my friend Jenn who couldn’t make it, and one for Rhiannon. I then discovered there were three games on each sheet. I was intimidated, but hey, it was for a good cause, and a great homeschooling opportunity for Rhia. So I take my stack of cards and we get settled at a table.
A new game starts and the numbers start flying. I think the Bingo caller had a day job as an auctioneer. My friend Cecilia’s son, who is the most articulate 2-year-old I’ve ever met, repeats every number as it gets called, only slightly different. D-15? I don’t see a D! Rhiannon was not much help either – she lost interest after the first two numbers were called.
Here is a tiny snippet of my Bingo experience:
Bingo caller: G-46
Tiny echoer: D-46! D-46!
Rhiannon: Mama can I go play with those girls?
me: Sure, go play.
Bingo lady: B-9
Tiny voice: G-9! G-9!
Rhiannon: mama, I have to go potty *right now*!
me: hold on a minute, I’ll be done soon. Can you hold it?
Rhia: No, I have to go now. I’ll just go – I know where the bathroom is.
me: (realizing bathroom is way down the hall in a public rec center). Uh, no, honey, please wait for me to take you.
Rhia: (pitch raising) But whyyyyy? I know where it is, I can go by myself!
Bingo lady: N-34
echo: N thirty-FOUR!
I reach over to cover N-34 on Rhia’s card, and see that she was eating the placemarkers as quickly as I put them on a square (well, they were M&M’s).
Who can Bingo like that? No wonder it’s a fave game of little old ladies. It’s quite the challenge.
Ah well, it was fun. Diva/Mamas rock, and I love hanging out with such awesome women. I’m very lucky to be a part of this community.
