There is that...

I have learned over the last several years that I have a strange gift.  Although I was once called "surprisingly athletic" (talk about a veiled compliment if there ever was one), I fear I will never be called on to kick the game-winning field goal, pinch-hit in the ninth inning, or cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon (although I think I have driven over the finish line - does that count?).   However, when it comes to obscure sports and/or leisure activities, I am pretty much invincible.  Got a marginal sport? (ultimate Frisbee, ping-pong)  Got a local game that few people have heard of and/or played? (crokinole - I have a 13-YEAR winning streak against my dad, and he is actually pretty good)  Got a board game collecting dust in the closet? (Clue, Scrabble, Monopoly, etc.)  Got a rainy day activity to pass away the time? (puzzles)  I will probably be extremely talented at it.  However, unlike talent in real sports (which has the obvious side-benefits of promoting personal fitness and health), the major benefit of my talent is an ability to tick off friends who engage in these activities with me.  As you might imagine, this is a somewhat less exciting outcome.

The latest installment?  Last night, a sweep of victories playing Brett and Courtney in crokinole, Clue, and Speed Scrabble.  (note: this was my debut Speed Scrabble, a highly entertaining version of Scrabble in which you start with seven letters, try to rearrange them to form words on your own, and then call "go" when you have incorporated all of your letters into a puzzle - each time somebody yells "go", everybody has to pick up one more piece until the winner has completed his/her puzzle and all the tiles are gone - it is now right up there on my favourite (modified) board game list).   I would say that I didn't want to win all the time, but hey, let's be honest, that's not really true... I am as competitive as the next guy once the rubber hits the road.  I guess I am consigned to either finding friends who are extremely understanding (thanks Brett and Courtney) or finding MANY friends so when I depress one group with my dominance, I can move on.  Sometimes amazing gifts aren't all they are cracked up to be.