Hands on tiles. Words constructed. And then reconstructed. Dictionaries thumbed. Triple word score red. Double letter blue. Scores scratched onto pads of paper.

Many holidays I have hunched over a ledge of seven letters.

Across from my Grandma Johnson. Across from my mother. Across from my brother.

My grandmother was very good, but she is no longer with us.

These days, my brother usually wins. He is a fearsome Scrabble opponent.

This year was no exception. He used up all seven tiles in one play and scored an extra fifty points. I cursed myself for asking at the beginning of the game what you get for using all seven tiles.

But this is the week to be thankful. And I have much to be thankful for.

I have a new front doorknob and a functioning snowblower. I have a fridge filled with delicious food.

And I am thankful I spent another holiday across the Scrabble board from my family.

I am thankful for having another chance to best him, to beat my big brother at a game that brings all my family’s elbows to rest on the same table.

I beat him once. I swear I did.

I will always be thankful for a rematch.

This week’s video is a recording of Ella Fitzgerald singing “I’m a Lucky So and So.”