When I was a kid we spent lots of time at our grandparents’ house. We utilized the same driveway and our houses were about 50 yards from each other. It was divine.
I remember eating Pringles and playing card games (exciting to eat name-brand chips!). This is where I learned to shuffle the deck and make the cool bridge each time. This is where my siblings and I learned basic card games like Kings in the Corner, Crazy 8’s, Hearts, and two different versions of Solitaire. This is where we learned to be graceful losers and humble winners (most of the time).
Grandpa and Grandma loved playing cards. When Grandpa would discard, he would hold the card with his thumb and pointer finger’s second knuckle, make a fist, and pound his hand down while letting go of the card. If the card was a five or if he was betting 5, he would say “niCKle” instead, with extra pronunciation on the “ck”. I still imitate him with that word. Makes my heart sing.
Playing card games has been something I’ve also done with my kids. You only need a deck of cards to play for hours. And with the good ‘ol world wide web, you can learn hundreds of games (that’s a guestimate).
Last weekend, Fiona played Kings in the Corner with my mom, her Grandma, for hours and she reveled in it. She knew how many times she had won and that it was more than Grandma. We came home and kept playing.
All four of my kids are home for the Easter Weekend, and after going to the mall, girls getting their nails done, boys hitting up the book store, a game of four-square, and lots of squabbling, I pulled out the small wooden briefcase full of red, blue and white poker chips I found on a garage sale, and asked if anyone wanted to play. One is NEVER too young to learn this game, ammi right?
After a few rounds of face-up cards and walking through what beats what, and how to bid or check, the cards were then dealt for the real deal. And after about an hour of five card draw and Texas Hold-em, they’d had enough. Actually, that was me. I had had enough.
They get so loud and laughy and jokes aren’t funny anymore. Basic sibling stuff, I know. Dad handed out some cash, and we sent them to town. That means silence, and me writing, for about 30-40 minutes. I wish for more, but I won’t get it, so I’ll be quick.
Even though I crab about the decibels, and the smart-ass comments to each other, and the mess the popcorn made on the floor because Addi (who’s 14 and should know better) decided to throw popcorn into her sibling’s mouths and subsequently not succeed, my heart is happy. My mind is tired, but having all four at home is fun.
I may have threatened them with false harm, and counted to three (nose to the wall if you hit three!) several times, but they know I’m more bark than bite.
We had a lot of fun and the little kids now have a new skill! I don’t know what I’ll tell the teacher when they find a circle of kids on the playground using rocks in place of money playing a game of Texas Hold ’em, but I’ll figure that out later along with how often they should attend Gamblers Anonymous.
Welp, they are home. Back to the chaos!
Hoss & Weasel 