I learned to play cribbage from my Grandfather. He was a snowbird who spent his winters in Florida. Every year on March Break, starting when I was six, my family would vacation in Florida. So every year, when we visited my Grandfather at his trailer park of retirees, I would learn to play crib.

I only ever played in Florida, so Grandpa would have to teach me each year. It took me about six years to learn to play cribbage, because that was only about 12 games total!

Grandpa was a great player. Each year when I ‘learned’ to play, I would win a game by about three pegs or lose by one. Grandpa had the ability to control the game, making sure I got enough points and that he didn’t get too many. He was a master and I’m glad I never had to play him for money.

Adding cribbage to the 40 list was an easy choice. Mom and I like to play, though we hadn’t played since Christmas 2011 and our rustiness showed. Things we couldn’t remember with any certainty: who led after the cards were dealt and cut, whether Jack of the suit turned up was worth a point, and how much the hands were worth. We had to count them out, point by point, rather than just ‘knowing from experience’ that 3,6,7,7,8 is worth 12. (Oh I hope that’s correct since it’s going in the blog!)

Playing cards or scrabble with my Mom is always a hoot. Unfortunately this time she won two games in a row, and she SKUNKED me in the first game. She didn’t realize her hand was so big until she started counting (24!) and then she counted it and won, and THEN I pointed out how I was still 2 pegs from the skunk line.

Sheesh.

I’m red. Mom is green. She wins and I’m behind the ‘S’ for skunked!

Here’s my mom, winning a second game of cribbage in a row.