the list of nice memories I have with card decks.

A week ago, I went to a dinner at my friend's house. He runs a poker league, so after some delicious food (he claims I consumed a pound of meat) and some American Idol time (don't judge), we went over to a bar where the league was in full force. Except for my buddy, the rest of our group, me included, knew little about poker. So, we just sat around, had some beers, and played the "Bullshit" card game. It was the perfect moment, and it led me to reflect on some other good memories I have that involve card decks.

1. When I was in elementary school, I saw a TV commercial that featured a parrot flying up to a house of playing cards. The parrot then grabbed one card with his claw, which sent the card house shattering in all directions. I became obsessed with replicating the parrot's moment of glory, and thus, for days (weeks perhaps?), I built card houses. I built and built, and I was frustrated and angry and bent the cards that were not bending to my will. Eventually, though, I was successful, and I managed to build a card house out of a full deck. I then yanked one card and had my victory. I remembered this story last week while playing "Bullshit" and told it to a friend.

2. When I was a kid, I spent some summers in Yalta, Ukraine with my Grandma. We stayed with her life-long best friend, who has a grandson. He's a year younger than me, and when we were little, we would spend hours on the beach by the Black Sea, playing "War," that never-ending card game. A gold, sun-filled moment of childhood.

3. My mother once decided to draw an entire Tarot card deck by hand. I remember that she spent hours in our kitchen, occupied with the task, markers at hand. I can't remember what motivated this strange desire because I don't have any memories of Mom learning fortune telling. I wonder if she just enjoyed the details of the process.

4. Once, my Dad did this amazing card trick. He spread the entire deck out on the couch and asked me to point to a card. No matter what card I pointed to, he always knew what it was. I still have zero clue as to how he pulled this off.

5. In college, I spent a good portion of my freshman year playing "Durak," a Russian card game with my guy friends. We'd get a little buzzed and sit around, playing it for hours. I want that entire group back together again, with a new deck of cards and a pack of beer.