Backgammon Addict

The first step is admitting it. This collection is entirely first steps — printed on the hoodie, embroidered on the cap, stuck to the laptop, living permanently on the mug next to the board that has been set up since Thursday and is not moving until further notice.

There were stages. Denial, minimizing, canceling plans, canceling better plans, and finally this collection — worn by someone who has arrived at acceptance with the calm, unhurried contentment of a person who stopped pretending somewhere around the hundredth match and found the honesty considerably more comfortable than the excuses.

The board is always set up. The dice cup lives on the counter. The addiction has been acknowledged and the acknowledgment looks excellent on a jersey tee.