The game box reads “The Original Rummikub — Brings people together. It’s a fast-paced game of strategy and luck that reinforces skills like sequencing, pattern recognition and planning. In the game players take turns placing numbered tiles in runs or groups, Rummy style – the first player to use all of their tiles wins
“I enjoy the game, it’s fun,” says Betty Harris, 60. “I went and bought me one for the house and enjoy playing it with my family too.”
Betty’s first started going to the center before Covid and came back last year.
“I like talking to people and it gets me out of the house,” she added.
Peggy first started going to the center years ago with her husband, who was nine years older.
“When he retired, we started going and we went until he died about 14 years ago. Then I didn’t go for a while because I was still young enough to go out and shop own my own,” she said. “Then in the last year or so I realized I’m getting older and started going back and I enjoy it.”
She’s taken friends to the center for a cup of coffee and visit.
“I told her Glenda makes good coffee … so she went and loved it and wanted to go every day,” Peggy added. When a neighbor asked her about the center and the food, she explained that she likes seeing the people at the center and she enjoys the food.
“It’s not like Mama’s cooking, but I always eat something on my plate because I feel like the meal is good for you,” Peggy says. “So, I go in and have a cup of coffee in the morning, work on a puzzle and when someone else gets there we start a game of Rummikub.”
Betty said another important thing about the center is that you can talk about topics that others may not understand.
“Everybody here is polite and gets along together and we can talk about things here and you can leave it here. People don’t tell it anywhere else and that’s nice,” Betty added.
She laughed about the center to be a good place to get away from your spouse too.
“If you have a husband and want to stay away from him as much as you can, it helps to have a place to go,” she said jokingly. “My husband will say, “Ain’t you going to the center today or I thought you’d be gone by now.”
Glenda says puzzles and the pool table are also popular with the current regulars who come to the center.
“I’d say we’re creatures of habit here,” she says, but the group does enjoy going on outings together to health fairs, a movie, or out to dinner. Sometimes they have cookouts. But in all things their number one goal is to have fun and enjoy each other’s company.
According to the 2020 census, 1,955 people call Stevenson home, and 16 percent of those residents are 65 and older. The Senior Citizens Center there was established Sept. 27, 1973. It closed for a period during the COVID-19 pandemic, but since it reopened, there are 15 community members who drop in for lunch and other activities. Another 12 homebound seniors receive home delivered meals.
Glenda says anyone interested in learning more about the center may call 256-437-3015 or stop by at 280 City Park Road.
