Scat, I'm "All IN" Gin!

Cards....A national pastime for the ages....all ages.  Crazy Eights, Old Maid, War, Uno, all games that we played as kids, played with our kids and still play today.  When all else fails, there's nothing on TV or the weather sucks and you have to be inside, pull out the cards.  It's been an old stand by in my life forever.  When we were kids and the rain and cold or snow and cold forced us inside, out came the card table, the snacks, and the cards.  Usually it was Gin Rummy.  It's generally a 2 person game but much more challenging with four.  When we were at Jeff's recently, all bet's were ON!  We lovingly beat the pants off each other (not that kind of poker) in SCAT, poker and once Lee went to bed (around 7:30), Jeff and I battled it out in a Gin Rummy tournament. (He kicked my a$$)
Some of the best times ever were around a card table.  Back in 1991, even the gals spent an afternoon on a cruise to Caracas, playing cards, drinking and smoking cigars....true story!!!  Even big ole Chuck Spaulding risked life and limb to inch his way on the outside of the ship to sneak a peak of the wild women he was cruising with.  Many fun hours have been enjoyed during tournaments of Hold 'Em at the Cascade Grill. The competitions brought out tears of happiness,  fits of stubbornness, escapes in anger and even feisty jaunts throughout the establishment in retribution. 
I remember my folks going to Bridge Night at the Country Club and Canasta at Grandma and Grandpa Hewitt's lake house. I can remember Dad out for Poker night with the boys and Mom locking ALL the doors at midnight.  It was very quiet at our house for the next few days. I can remember the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat on casino trips from Las Vegas to Atlantic City to Aruba. 
To me there is nothing quite like the excitement of picking up a brand new hand in cards. ( I lead a pathetically boring life). It's a pastime that can be enjoyed anywhere with anyone of any age. A deck of cards should be in every gal's pocketbook, every man's suitcase and even carried in your car, your boat and your RV.  You just never know when you might need to pass the time, enable your gambling habit or just plain enjoy time your friends.  You might have the best time of your life...the answer's "in the cards!"