P ~ Phase 10

     Twenty some years ago LV introduced me to the game of Phase 10.

    I had been invited to his house to meet some of his cousins. My brother John gave me a ride to his house and as I was walking across the yard someone came out to meet me and said, "The cousin LV really wanted you to meet didn't come after all so you don't have to stay."

    I looked in dismay at the back of John's buggy that was rapidly clattering down the driveway, and wondered if I could catch him if I ran fast, or if not I could slink through the woods and go back home.

    "You can come on in, since he has left already," the person said and led the way to the house. As I stepped inside, the screen door closed faster than anticipated and neatly swiped the shoe right off my foot leaving it plopped outside on the porch, with me and my other shoe inside.

    The conversation that had been going at high tilt slowed and stopped as everyone watched LV's girlfriend try to get that offending shoe back on her foot where it belonged.

    Thankfully at this point LV realized I was there and came to my rescue. We headed upstairs where a group of his cousins were preparing to play Phase 10. He explained the rules to me and we proceeded to play. The game was fun, even though I lost spectacularly, and the day that started off so awkwardly had become much more enjoyable.

    Through the years since that day we have played Phase 10 hundreds and hundreds of times. I've lost a good 95% of the time, but somehow I always enjoy it.