Around The Table

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Now, today's story...

Back in the late '70s, my grandparents and their friends, most of whom they knew through my grandfather's job with Florida Power & Light, started taking vacations up in the mountains of North Carolina. They'd go camping, often for weeks at a time, especially during the summer when it got hot in Florida.

They all would schedule their time off together so they could take these trips. By the early '90s they were all retired. Just prior to that they had all started buying property up in the mountains near their favorite campsite, in an area called Sapphire.

My grandparents best friends have probably always been Barbara and Dean Jackman. My grandpa worked with Dean for decades at the plant. And up in North Carolina, they bought property with in walking distance of each other.

But Dean and Barbara wanted to make that property a place to live each summer. They didn't like carrying the fifth wheel up all the time. It was too much work and as Barbara will be the first to admit, they aren't young people anymore.

In the late 90s, Dean laid out the plans for a two-story, 24-foot cabin that would go on the property and hired contractors to start building it. When it was finished, it was the coolest little place around. Downstairs was a full kitchen, bathroom and living room with a big table Dean had built right in the middle. Upstairs were 3 beds, a queen and two twins.

In 2001, Dean died. Now Barbara lives there by herself but her kids and grandkids come up to visit every year. Aside from that, she has friends over to play cards or dominoes nearly every night. Last year when Jennifer and I went up, we were over there every night.

Two weeks ago when I was up there with my grandparents, same thing. Cards every night. Which brings me to what my story is really about today.

On the second night, we'd finished a hand of Phase 10 when my grandma asked whose turn it was to deal. Well I hadn't been paying attention so I just said something smartass like "it just goes in circles around the table."

Well it didn't hit me at first, but the three of them (Barbara and my grandparents) were gonna have a little fun with me for the rest of the week just for saying that. Right away Barbara's all, "we're old people Chris, we don't remember who's turn it is so just saying it goes around the table doesn't really help us."

I laughed because, yes, I understood that it was funny. What I didn't realize is how funny they thought it was. Not only did they continue teasing me for the rest of the week, but Barbara told her friend Carol (who I've met several times). Carol was at Wal-Mart and she bought a pack of dealer chips just for me.

They're the kind you pass around the table (though I suppose the trick for "old people" is to remember to pass it on) that way I'll never forget whose turn it is to deal. At least that's what she told me.

So as long as I continue to visit North Carolina and hang out with that group, I'm never going to forget that silly line. Great.

Coming Soon: My latest short film is coming out this week. I'll have more details on "Stax" this week. You'll even be able to watch it for yourself. It's gonna crack you up. And if it doesn't, then you don't have a soul.