Happy returns

First of all, I'm a grandfather again. My sixth.

That happened while I was on my way home from a conference of an organization called the North American Simulation and Gaming Association (NASAGA) Their slogan: "Playful Methods. Serious Results." should make my interest in this group vividly clear. And even more vividly clear when you take into account that I was one of the keynote speakers for this year's conference. (You can download my speech here.)

Next, just before I left, ran out, actually, thinking (rightly, it turns out) that my grandfatherness was about to leap another quantum, I was told that I was the recipient of the IFILL/RAYNOLDS Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Simulation Gaming.

And what an award! Look at their criteria:

The recipients work should respect and make use of the power and spiritual richness within practical settings. In an exemplary way, the work should:
-Foster a sense of community among those who interact with it.
-Deepen understanding of a cultural, organizational, and/or global common good as it provides for interaction with the situation(s) and/or system(s) being modeled.
-Enable active, positive listening by participants to themselves and/or those different from themselves, enhancing their understanding of themselves and others.
-Contribute to strengthening and/or changing an organization's or group's climate and spirit while building a deeper understanding of it's purpose.

And they gave it to me!. Right as I was about to run home. And on top of that, I turned 65 two days later, receiving my official award of senior citizenship. And on top of all that, my grandfather award. Did I mention that it was my sixth?