Friday, February 16, 2018

Solitare:The Game of Life

Like my mother before me, I taught my kids to play solitaire. Long before it was the only computer game that you could play while pretending to work, (Yes! I am THAT old I keep telling you) it was a card game that I played a lot. Mostly because I was always by myself, and also because I love the game. Especially when I got a little older and my mom taught me to play Vegas style. OhhhLaalaaaa

Actually, I was struggling in math and I think it was a ploy to get me to practice adding and subtracting. It was a good for this anxiety ridden partly OCD kid.  Once I learned Vegas style there was no turning back! Even when I said, "oh I'm not playing for money just for fun." I would find myself cursing at the aces to get their ass out of the deck so that I could at least over the cost of the cards. Sheesh. Is that too much too ask.

The Holiday's were good around here, it was a lot less crazy than the fall. A well deserved break. But boy did I pay for it in January. The month was crazy busy and I am still scratching my head that February is almost over.  It didn't help that we have passed around a cold or sinus infection or whatever this was and it literally took us down one by one.  I was the last to go.

The overlap between #2 son passing it to #1 son was a rough few days.  Everyone was snotty - in more ways then one. Tempers flared, exhaustion reined, and the world was not cooperating.  Toward the end of one of those long days I finally got out the lysol sprayed everyone into their rooms then kissed them all soundly and put them to bed.

As I lay in the dark looking at my Kindle with barely enough energy to set my alarm let alone read my book I remembered Solitaire. I busted out the tried and true.  Not really even paying attention I would start the game, click away, get stuck, start a new one. This pattern repeated so often I started clicking new game, if I didn't like the way the cards looked. No Aces? click. All red? click. 4 10's, how is that even possible! I clicked new game again, and again, and again. 
Just one WIN and I could go to bed!!

Finally frustrated that no amount of starting over was getting me that win I let go of winning and started click, click, clicking....and then it happened. I won. The last card clicked started that beautiful falling, shuffling, flying of cards all over the screen that says - "YOU DID IT!"

Just when I thought it would never happen, there it was in the most unlikely cards. I thought about how much this game is a metaphor for life. Since I really started this blog to leave my son's the musing of their mother I want to say to them....

Solitaire is a lot like life. While you may be surrounded by people, friends, and loved ones- the only one who can play is you. Sometimes the cards are good. Sometimes the cards are bad. Sometimes you play hard trying every angle possible, and still you can't win. Cut your losses. Reshuffle.  Sometimes you play for fun and the cards are easy and you win. Enjoy it!

Like any game; you will only get out of life, what you put into it.  And when you least expect it, it will surprise you. Enjoy the good cards and the bad because all of them make up the game.

PS Your Mom is always up for a game of  Peanuts!!