"You put the last piece in like this."

Apparently the grocery store is a good place for studies of cognition. As it turns out, it may also provide fertile grounds for the study of games and learning. My mother Judy shared the following story with me the other day. With her permission (and the permission of the Trader Joe's employee from this story), I offer it here for your consideration. She wrote:

"I took 3 TJ's* bags out of the back of Volvo, wandered around in the usual way and checked out to the tune of $75 or so. The checker started bagging and I said, 'Don't worry if there aren't enough bags. I have more in the car.'  He responded, 'So you don't want any extra bags?'  I came back with the usual bit about not needing to use more paper etc.

1 1/2 bags into the process he said, 'I don't think you need to worry about it Ma'am. Everything will fit. I'm good at Tetris. Do you know what Tetris is?'  We talked about Tetris, and he told me how you just have to think ahead and then finished up by putting the eggs across the top of the last bag of stuff saying, 'and then you put the last piece in like this.' "

*Trader Joe's

Okay, so it's 99 Bricks: The Legend of Garry not Tetris. If you're curious about the difference,  the picture links to the game over at Armor Games

Personally I've always credited Tetris with helping me to refine my spatial reasoning skills . . . that and lots and lots of practice from helping Kelly pack drums, vibraphone, amps, guitars, and an assortment of other gear into our trucks for numerous Monkey Wagon shows.