"This is Jeopardy"

This piece will also be in Ariele’s new FUN anthology book. If you have a submission for that, please send it to Ariele Huff at ariele@comcast.net.

“This is Jeopardy”

“This is… Jeopardy!”

How I love hearing those words on T.V. at 7:30 every evening!

Dad and I watched Jeopardy together as a nightly ritual 30 years ago. I was 45. He was 85.

Our favorite category was Classical Music.

As I blurted out the correct response in rapid fire, Dad sat there amazed. He was the person who had instilled in me a love for and knowledge of Classical Music. He, too, knew the answers, but was a half beat too slow.

Today, I still tune into Jeopardy, as a nightly ritual. When Host Alex Trebek flashes the categories on the screen, I say to myself, I know about Geology and Words. I always loved geology in high school and college and definitely considered it for a major. This will be easy.

“I’ll take Geology for $800, Alex,” I tell the T.V.

I’m stunned. From the entire category I only recall the $400 one, yelling my answer, in the form of a question, “What is sedimentary rock?”

I still do fairly well with Words.

Trebek explains these are words both beginning with an “e” and ending with an “e.” As much as I’d like to say I take the entire column, I’m just too slow and have to spend too much time thinking about the response. The contestants, having zipped through the column, are now on to the next category. I just can’t switch gears that fast. I’m still kicking myself about words beginning and ending with “e.”

Sometimes I just take a wild, totally uneducated guess, and Voila! It’s right. Except, I know nothing about present day young movie stars, T.V. shows or pop singers.

Ironically, I probably get more “Final questions” right, than the columns.

“This author lived in Florida, but also loved Paris!” says Trebek.

“Who is Hemmingway!” I blurt out at the T.V.

And, that constitutes fun for me.

Suzanne G. Beyer, a Bothell Washington resident, writes non-fiction articles for publication and co-authored the book, "The Inventor's Fortune Up For Grabs" with John S. Pfarr.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function above.