Are you ready?

 

The last week in March is almost here, and we all know what that means:  The new card will soon be on its way.  This year is like no other, as the card is coming just as people are starting to (very cautiously) come back to the playing table.  We can put aside the 2020 card and start anew, resting assured that the game of mahjongg will be waiting, unchanged, from the last time we played.  Will we remember all the protocols and rules?  How will it feel to touch and mix the tiles?  Will we still have what it takes to win?  Will we still play online?  So many of us have made friends with players from all over the country - how do we stay connected when we start to play with our local groups?  It will be interesting to see the "new normal" when it comes to mahjongg!  But first, the 2021 do's and don'ts.

• Do sign up for USPS informed delivery.  The post office will send you a daily email showing the mail you will receive that day.  No more running to the box every five minutes to see if the card has arrived!  Use this link to sign up:  https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action
• Do be patient.  The League mails out hundreds of thousands of cards.  We all know the Post Office is not what it used to be.  It will take time for the cards to fan out across the country, and even longer to reach foreign shores (that's you, Canada).  
• Do check your e-mail receipt to see when your card will be mailed.   If you ordered January through early February your card will be sent the last week in March.  After mid-February your card will go out in the second mailing in early April.  If you did not order from the League, but ordered from a retailer such as Amazon or other online store, your card will be sent in late April.
• Don't panic if you don't get your card the same time as your group does.  It happens, even if you all ordered at the same time.  The Post Office does things in its own way and it is nothing personal.
• Don't forget who you ordered from!  If you do not have an e-mail receipt, check your credit card statement.  Remember, if you were charged tax or shipping, you did not order directly from the League and your card will not arrive until late April.
• Don't be pushed into playing in person if you aren't ready.  It goes without saying that we are all at different stages of "returning to normal."  Please respect each others' comfort level and understand that there will of necessity be negotiations involved with setting up in-person games.  Be clear about your readiness to play in person and communicate your comfort level to others in your group.  We are all taking baby steps back into the world of in-person playing, and groups will need to decide how to implement this.  Have discussions, work it out so that everyone can eventually come back to the table with confidence.

One last Do - Be grateful for the mahjongg community that has provided so much support and friendship during the pandemic and extend your hand to new and returning players during 2021.

See you next week (Post Office willing) for the yearly card analysis!