In my college dorm there were two pinball machines in the basement, and I was eager to neglect my studies. I started off with a roll of quarters; within a week or two I never needed more than single quarter. In fact, I generally garnered such a nice surplus of free games that I could leave them for my dorm mates; they usually returned the favor by leaving the machine with one or two games, ready for my next marathon session.

The downside (besides my grades): I developed a rather troubling tic in my left eye whenever I’d play for more than an hour at a time. The tic still shows up once in a great while when I’m extremely tired or stressed.

The other downside: Pinball machines are such a rarity these days that I have no way to test myself anew. I am a dinosaur, and am not a great fan of video games. Or computer games, for that matter. Except Solitaire and their ilk.

It is unfortunate that feelings such as those are the inheritance of so many.

Even today, as I’m sure you will understand, if I had ten dollars to spend, spent on another I’d see it gladly, spent on myself, I’d see it a waste.

Let us hope the next blog tells us what to do with such an inheritance.