Grandma Cooper dealt cards like a seasoned Las Vegas pro—swift, smooth, and with a twinkle in her eye. She had the knack of making every game feel like an event, and just like in Vegas, the house always seemed to win.
It didn’t matter what we played—War, Go Fish, Spades, Hearts, or the family favorite, Euchre—Grandma won. And if the cards weren’t in her favor, she’d still find a way to dominate. Yet, no matter how many times she left us licking our wounds, playing games with Grandma was never about winning or losing. It was about the laughter, her gentle encouragement to sharpen our skills, and the captivating yarns she spun between rounds.
One day, much later in life, I found myself sitting next to Grandma in yet another round of Euchre. It was like any other game—cards being played, stories being told—but then, I noticed something odd. She wasn’t following suit.
Wait… Grandma cheating?
I couldn’t ignore it. I cleared my throat, set my cards down, and called her out: “Grandma, you didn’t follow suit.”
The room fell silent. It was one of those rare, weighty moments when time seems to freeze. You could’ve heard a pin drop. Heck, I think I could hear my own heartbeat.
Grandma, always calm and composed, met my gaze with a steady look. Then, breaking the tense quiet, she said, “It’s about time, Bobby. I’ve been trying to get your attention.”
Her words hung in the air, confusing me. What was she getting at?
“I didn’t follow suit to see if you’d notice or if you’d let me—or anyone else—take advantage of you,” she explained. Her voice softened, but her words carried a weight that landed squarely on my young shoulders. “Don’t ever let someone take advantage of you, okay?”
In that moment, I realized Grandma hadn’t just been playing games with us all these years. She’d been teaching us, using laughter, stories, and, yes, even a little rule-bending, to deliver life’s most important lessons.
Looking back, it wasn’t about the cards, the wins, or the losses. It was about the wisdom she slipped into every game. Grandma Cooper was always teaching, even when we didn’t know we were being schooled.
To this day, when I sit down for a game of cards, I remember her advice. And I smile, knowing that somewhere, she’s probably still dealing like a Vegas pro—and still winning.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Grandma Cooper Tackling Stumps and Sharing Wisdom
Leave a Reply