Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Wednesday Card Games


While visiting family recently, I stayed with my grandparents' instead of my parents', as my mom recently turned their guest room into a craft room.

My grandparents' place is within walking distance from my parents', just a few houses down the road. I slept the best I had in weeks in the guest room bed.


My last morning there, after sleeping in a little longer than I should have, I awoke to voices in the kitchen.


My grandfather ("pappy") and his brother ("Uncle Forrie", short for Forrest) were playing cards at the kitchen island.


This is a tradition for them, every Wednesday. They alternate between each others homes. When they play at Forrie's, they go to the Senior Center for lunch. When they eat at Pappy's, Forrie brings lunch from Jack in the Box (you can see the paper bag on the counter in the photo.)


They play two games each of cribbage, pinochle, golf, and a gameI think they call acey-duecy. They cajole each other and laugh and are brotherly competitive.



I ate my cereal then chatted with them while they played. I don't know how we got on the subject but Uncle Forrie told me a story about the time he played in a baseball game and this player named Joe DiMaggio was there and gave him a signed ball. Of course this was back in the late 30's/early 40's, before Joe DiMaggio was you know, Joe DiMaggio. So Uncle Forrie brought the ball home to his little brother, my pappy, and said "now don't play with this ball it's signed and special."


Well now my pappy needed a baseball one day while playing with friends so of course he used it. And what do you think happened? Yep, he lost it. They looked everywhere for that ball and it was never found.
Uncle Forrie said he wasn't mad though. That's a cool big brother if I ever heard of one. My pappy and Uncle Forrie are two of 12 siblings. I imagine they know a lot about getting along with your brothers and sisters.


Uncle Forrie told me he used to play baseball in the minor leagues and he got paid something like $134 dollars a month. He chuckled over the comparison to pro sports players now, making millions a year.



I loved that random, little moment with them that morning. Our family, our relatives....they are fountains of stories like this one. We so often forget to ask, to listen, to the wisdom and insight they have to share.

35 comments:

  1. I love hearing stories about Pappys brothers and sister when they were growing up. I'm sure cuz K could tell us some at the stampede!!

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  2. How nice , I would so love to be able to sit and chat with my Grandad or Grandpa.Thanks for sharing such a special time

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  3. That story makes me think of "The Sandlot". I love it!

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  4. Sometimes I think the stories are better than having the material things. It's so neat that you get to hang out with your family.

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  5. It's nice to document as many stories as possible about parents and grand parents, for our own kids to read and remember.... love the photo!

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  6. Great story and nice pics as always.

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  7. How cool is that? Extended family is the BEST. I see why you slept so well.

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  8. Uncle Forrie was a great athlete. As an 8th grader, he played on the high school basketball team. At one of the Bball games as a senior, his team scored 38 points - 32 of the points were scored by Forrest.
    He played in a softball game one time against a traveling team called Eddie Feigner's The King and His Court. Eddie Feigner was a fastball pitcher who would have 3 team members play against local teams. Mostly, he would strike out the other team, time after time. The other plays were fielded by the other 3 players. After the game against Uncle Forrie's team, Eddie approached Forrie with an offer to play on his traveling team. Forrest didnt see much of a future in it and he was starting his own business by then, so he declined. 30 years later, Eddie's team was still traveling and beating local teams of all ages. But things worked out pretty great for our Uncle, also.

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  9. {SMR}~ Hi Cousin! Thanks for the extra anecdote about Uncle Forrie! When you get some time, I'd love to read some old stories about your father (my pappy and Forrie's brother) on your blog!

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  10. George (my father-in-law) and his brother play cards whenever they get together... it can get pretty competitive. lol

    And I love when George is feeling mellow and in the mood to talk about stories from when he was growing up. Not only was it a completely different time than those we experienced but as he is from Greece it was a whole other world. :)

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  11. What a great post! Thanks cuz Saddle Mnt Rider for more info on Uncle Forrie. It makes me so sad that there is only two brothers and two sisters left. We really have a special family.

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  12. Oh, that's so great that they get together for cards! I can see you and Paint Girl getting together like that when you're cute little old ladies. :) You're so right about gaining wisdom and insight from our relatives. It's just amazing to hear stories of how things were when they grew up and their life experiences. Just when I think I've got it all figured out one of my elders puts me back in my place and shows me that I'm still just a youngin' still learning 'bout life!

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  13. How sweet of them to model for you! Pappy always has to tell me how the card games went when I see him on Wednesdays. Usually Pappy is winning and Uncle Forrie is a sore loser, of course! They crack me up!

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  14. P.S. Caspian just tagged you on his blog...he asked me to pass along the word. ;)

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  15. What a wonderful peek into your sweet family - and man, what a BIG, warm family it must be!!!
    :-)
    BB

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  16. I would love to wake up to a card game! I miss playing cards with everyone. We won't be able to keep up the card playing tradition if we don't learn how to play all those games!!

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  17. Oh, how I would love to be able to sit at the kitchen table and hear stories from my grandpa again...I miss him terribly....you are truly blessed to have them in your lives. :)

    http://horsefilleddays.blogspot.com/

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  18. I loved reading your post, it is a treasure.
    debby

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  19. How sweet! What a wonderful moment (and ritual) to stumble upon. When my grandfather passed away, I put together a collage of pictures of him, many of them including my grandmother. It was so eye-opening to see my Grandpa as a young man, so in love with my Granny. And then hearing the stories that went along with the photos. Sometimes we forget that these people had lives before us, rich wonderful exciting lives. Its very special to get a glimpse into that. And bummer about the baseball!

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  20. You are one lucky lady...all my grandparents are gone now.

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  21. Isn't that cool - I always sleep like that at my grandparents place too! It's like you body goes "finally you are where you're supposed to be!" lol!

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  22. Very cute post and pictures...I thought i was looking at a mirror image at first. My 8o year old mom enjoys her sisters so much.. as older age is such a special time in their lives and their reminiscencing is a big part of it. It was nice that they could share some of it with you as it always adds a sparkle when retelling a story to a youngin'!

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  23. That was awesome. Makes me miss my grandpa...

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  24. Wow great story! Such a great thing for them to be able to do with each other!

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  25. PG - remember when our pappy taught us how to play poker?! That pappy of ours and his sbilings take their card playing seriously ~ no messing around during a poker game, even when you are playing for pennies!!! That is a memory that will last a lifetime

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  26. That is so neat you still have them with you! Nice they are close to your mom too!

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  27. I never had a grandpa growing up so I get teary eyed when I read about others who do! ***sniff**

    I always wanted one You are so lucky!

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  28. thank you for sharing this sweet moment with us.
    it was so touching.
    :)
    chasity

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  29. I love those two kooks!

    Since my grandpa has been gone for a few years now, I kind of consider Uncle Ronnie as my adopted Grandpa. I always get such a kick out of him!

    And Uncle Forrest is such a sweet man. I keep threatening to take a couple days off and join in on their Wednesday card games. I just need to do it!

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  30. You are so lucky to have your grandparents alive, all of mine have passed on, 3 of them while I was young, now my father has dimensia & the stories he knows are now lost. Enjoy your time with them, it is very precious.

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  31. Aren't you ever so glad your mom turned her guest room into a craft room? If not, you would never have had this specail moment with your pappy and uncle Forrie. I love this post and hearing about your dear family. Youe picture of them is amazing.
    I loved your dear comment, you made me laugh.
    hugs

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  32. I can just hear them quarreling at each other now! And my Dad (Pappy) can not play cards with out baiting you all the time. He is always trying to make you think you are going to make a mistake or just did!

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  33. simply wonderful! our ancestors are so important. i miss my grandparents. so glad you are still able to enjoy yours!

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  34. what a great story! Love the simple life of getting together on Wed. mornings for cards!

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  35. Treasure your special time with your Grandparents, PG. I have none left to enjoy. All mine have passed on and the only grandparent my 3 kidlets have is my Dad. My Mother and my husband's parents have all passed on, too.

    Your photos of them are priceless and beautiful.
    ~Lisa

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I love hearing from my readers!! I truly enjoy all of your feedback, advice, helpful tips, and stories. You all make me laugh and I learn so much from you, too. I will try to post replies to your comments as often as I can.

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