Playing Cards

PLAYING CARDS © ARC May 22, 2014, 5:56 AM Thursday

I grew up playing cards as primary entertainment.

Mom taught us math, spelling, all sorts of learning skills.

My siblings and I advanced to War and Casino.

Teenage years Canasta dominated: elegant with no frills.


Poker was for grown ups; gin rummy best when only two.

I loved camaraderie/kibitzing: it was all about socializing for me.

I avoided serious competitive players who turned fun into discomfort.

Cards like sports could become contentious - rudeness overrule glee.


Bridge was avoided for over seventy years: rigid reputation.

New factors suddenly thrust game into my heightened awareness.

I was being challenged as never before throughout septuagenarian life.

Teacher and classmates portrayed the highest in neighbor friendliness.


I was a visual learner: rote memorization difficult all of my days.

Impossible task remember bidding strategies covering gamut of pages.

Weeks turned into months with seemingly no progress made at all.

Then finally some things starting to click in bit by bit stages.


I salute notable instructor Inge for patience extraordinaire.

Showcased shout out to classmates who empathetically share.

It doesn’t get any better than this than to learn and have fun.

Kudos to like minded peers who reach out and lovingly care.

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