When I was 5, my mom and step-dad got married. He became my second dad, and combined with my real dad, I found out what kind of man I wanted to marry. He truly is an amazing man. Back to the pinnacle of my life. When we met, I remember him playing this game of cards called Shanghai (or Chinese Poker, as I call it) and wanting to play it so bad. "You have two options: Wait until you're 11, or learn how to shuffle two decks of cards," he told me. Since 1. I had small 5 year old hands and 2. I was just as lazy as I am today, I decided I could wait 6 years.
11 years old. My first game of Shanghai... I quit. It's harder than it looks. There are 10 rounds. They are made up of runs (2, 3, 4, 5, etc of the same suite) and books (3 of the same number). The point of the game is to have the least amount of points. No joke, until I was like 14, I'd quit the 6th or 7th round, in tears; And if I didn't quit, I'd end up with like 700 points.
It's been about a year and a half since we've played it last. Since you have to have at least 4 people to play it, and when we moved to North Louisiana there was only 3 of us, we never played. Honestly, I forgot about the game.
Last night, I found the card holders. I wouldn't leave my parents and my uncle who just moved in, alone until we played it. I came in second to the master himself, my step-father, Paul. So tonight, I wanted to play it again. After 3 grueling hours, someone got 690 points and someone got 95.... and let's just say Paul got 690 and I got 95. I could have cried. I kid you not, it happened like 10 minutes ago. I had to tell the world. "It's really a challenge to get under 100. Good job," he said. Boo. Yah.
You knew I'd turn this into an inspirational thing, didn't you? Well, here it comes. I've known about this game, and been playing it for years. Yet, I haven't got under 300 until now. It's because I understand the game better. I make the decisions on when to lay the cards down and when to pick them up. I can tell when people are bluffing and when they're sincere. I'm making better choices in the game. HELLO. WELCOME TO LIFE. It's taken me 16 years to know when I should argue my case, or keep my mouth shut. I know when I should trust people and when I shouldn't. I'm making better choices in life. I have trust from my parents and trust from my friends, and I'm happier when there isn't drama going around with either of them. Who would have known 11 years ago, I'd be blogging about how that card game is like life in California.
Anyways, that's pretty much it. All that's left is a picture I took today of my school's precious and clearly happy "mascot"
Love & Creep,
Jess
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