The Secret of Happiness

(DISCLAIMER)

THE NAME OF THE CARD GAME IN THE FOLLOWING STORY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
TRUE FEELINGS AND ATTITUDES OF THE AUTHOR.HAVING KNOWN
SINGLE,INDEPENDENT,MATURE,HARDWORKING WOMEN ALL MY LIFE, I WOULD NEVER USE
THE TERM 'OLD MAID. 'IT IS, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE NAME OF THE GAME WE WERE
PLAYING AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REAL MEANING OF HAPPINESS.

Well, they've gone back. My son Matt, DIL Kim, Zach 8 and Raelynn 4. I've
spent the last four days playing with the children. We skateboarded, played
mini-golf, laughed and sang, and played many games including a card game of
"Old Maid" with me pitted against 4 year-old Raelynn. It was during this
card session I found the true meaning of happiness.

The deck has 14 pairs of cards and one odd card called "The Old Maid." Each
player draws a card from the other player(s) and when he has a pair he lays
it down. This continues until all cards are matched and one person is left
with or "stuck with" the "Old Maid." Other players usually laugh at and make
fun of the person who is left with card.

At the end of the first game, Raelynn was stuck with "Old Maid." She was
visibly upset and began to pout. After a moment I asked her if she wanted to
play something else. She said No, she wanted to continue to play Old Maid,
with one exception.

What? I asked.

Leave out the Old Maid! she answered.

Why?

Because I hate her!

I said OK. So we played Old Maid without the Old Maid.

We played several games and at the end of each game all the cards were
paired and laid down. She was happy and I was happy.

I'm not a great philoso..philasop..thinker, but I'm sure there is some
meaning here, but I"m just too close to verbalize it.

Stan :)

Norma...

I like that. No winner, no loser, just happy kids. You're a good
Grandpa.

You've come up with a great idea. Now change the rules a bit. Have a
player request specific cards from an opponent instead of just drawing
from each other's hands. You could call it something like..ummm. Go
Fish? :)
Norma

mmj1...

Hey, I think she's a very smart young lady. That way everyone's happy.

david...

what a nice story... :) yes, you're a great grandpa... and you were both

Chakolate...

Aww, that's so nice. And very smart of her. With that card, there are
winners and losers. Without it, there are only winners. Brava!

winners... you're right. it's a complex issue... the game is fun because
it lets you two interact and reinforce each other and share giggles. the
goal was never to make one feel bad. how marvelous. thanks for sharing..:)

**Lin**...

Otoh this practical person thinks that life is not always even or fair
and what better person to gently teach that to a beloved granddaughter
than her granddaddy? :-)

Phyllis Copp...

Nope! Leave it all to the parents, it's a grandparents place to love and
enjoy them!! (<:
Phyllis

Chakolate...

I don't think it's necessary for the people who love a child to toughen
him/her up. I think the world will do that. The people who love her
ought to encourage her to change the world if it's not how she thinks it
should be.

Of course, it's easy for me to talk, as I have no children.