Results: It's in the Cards

Helen was her name, and Pinochle was her game. Do you play cards for either fun or profit?

Grandma was a tiny woman- less than five feet in height- with small hands, but she could shuffle cards at the speed of light. Bridge shuffle, overhand shuffle, riffle shuffle, faro shuffle. Neither age nor arthritis slowed her down. (I so want to say "'til she shuffled off this mortal coil" but am sure someone would call me out for disrespect even though none would be intended toward her or Shakespeare) Do you have a preferred method when you shuffle cards?

On Sunday visits, Grandma taught us to play Go Fish, Old Maid, and a remarkably boring game called War. She also made certain we knew the difference between cheating and (with apologies to Kenny Rogers someone she likely never hear of) "when to hold 'em." Would you ever cheat at cards?

Of course, Grandma had no need to cheat, but she didn't believe in giving the game away to us, either. Happily, luck of the draw kept the kids in the game when we played Go Fish or Old Maid. Would you play to "let" someone win?

Despite my Pinochle loving Grandmother's efforts, I am no kind of card player. Gave up any pretense of being interested after my high school boyfriend tried to teach me how to play Bridge (one of his favorite activities) which led to a long, angry walk on a very cold and snowy Ohio night. Do you have a favorite card game?