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I grew up in a family of card players. As early as I can remember, on Saturday nights we would gather with my grandparents, aunts and uncles and all of the kids for an evening of cards and good times. Usually the game was penny poker and any kid who was old enough to grasp the rules was invited to be dealt in. I was a quick study and by the time I was about 10 I had a regular seat with the big dogs. The laughter and family bonding that took place around the table provide some of my happiest childhood memories.
It wasn't just poker we played. My grandparents particularly loved Canasta. They seized any chance they could find to get up a game to relieve the boredom of a long winter's night. If they couldn't manage to get a foursome they would play the rules for a three-handed game or even a two-handed game by dealing to a blind hand. I have taught many people to play Canasta including Brian who has gotten so good he can now occasionally beat this sly old Canasta Jedi.
There hasn't been a card game invented that I haven't enjoyed playing. Hearts, Spades, Whist, Bridge, Blackjack, Gin, Crazy Eights, and one of my all time favorites, Pinochle. But the granddaddy of them all for me is the rather regional game of Euchre. I grew up in North Central Illinois which is pretty much ground zero for this fast-paced game. Just about any bar you went into in those small Midwestern towns back in the day would have a couple of tables of Euchre going. And of course no table would be complete without a nice bowl of fried smelt to scarf down. I'll match these against your bar peanuts any old day.
Regrettably, over the past several years Brian and I have all but stopped playing cards. There are so many other distractions vying for our attention now (such as Daily Kos). The inspiration for this diary came from a wedding we attended last night. Many of our friends were there as well and the subject of cards came up. It turns out that we aren't the only couple who misses passing an evening together with a deck of cards, a fridge full of beer and some good tunes. Nostalgia took hold and by the end of the reception we were planning a regular card night. It will provide a great excuse to get together more often for some real quality time. Our first gathering will be Friday the 29th. Eight of us will be playing Poker and I can hardly wait. Now if I can just find a place to get my hands on some fresh smelt.
Now on to why we're all here:
TOP COMMENTS
September 9, 2012
Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU
when you find that proficient comment.
From Killer of Sacred Cows:
In this diary by Kos, Romney campaign admits it: they're losing, Fauxton gives us the perfect explanation of why we need to focus on the downticket races as much as the Presidency in this (and every) election.
From leu2500:
In WarrenS's diary, Bob Love's comment is what you get when you combine birtherism and robotism.
From arizonablue:
In Vyan's diary Bill Bennet: Bush Won the Iraq War, Steveningen (blush) gave us this great comment.
And from your diarist Steveningen:
In FiredUpInCA's diary Paul Ryan is a Liar and a Disaster, koosah makes a damned good funny.
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TOP PHOTOS
September 8, 2012
Enjoy jotter's wonderful PictureQuilt™ below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. Have fun, Kossacks!
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