Nibs, The Original Canasta Goddess

Hi Canasta Lovers,

As Mother's day is just around the corner I thought it might be fun to tell you about the original canasta goddess, my mom, known far and wide as Nibs.  My mother was a card player extraordinaire.  She could play any card game but her favorite was Canasta.  When I was growing up my mom played canasta almost every afternoon and most week night evenings.  She had her own posse of friends who laughed together, cried together, raised their children together and supported each other on the winding road of life.

I remember afternoons when I would walk into the family room (AKA the Den) and there would be the posse, Trudy, Louise, Martha, Roz and sometimes Gerry sitting in different stages of undress, those pesky flushes were starting.  My mother used to tell a story about how she would be playing canasta late into the night and then walk into her bedroom backwards in hopes of my father thinking she was already at home. (This doesn't make too much sense to me, but it seemed to, to her.)

Once or twice a year the posse would go to a spa (AKA milk farm) for a couple of days.  I can not imagine them doing early morning hiking or spinning, but massages and facials were certainly the order of the day.  And of course, marathon canasta games into the wee hours.  A little like Rho Kappa's annual trip to the ranch in Amagansett.

Things have not changed so much since Nibs and her friends ruled the Canasta table.  We do have better air conditioning and so can keep our clothes on during flush- time.  I wonder what the posse who opened with 50, 90, and 120 points respectively would make of our 125, 155, and 180 point requirement.  But the most important things have remained the same.  We still depend on the girlfriend connection for the love, common sense and positivity they bring to our lives.  Besides a life long love of card games I have learned mnay life lessons from my mother and her posse, among them; how to treat other people, how to share laughter and dry tears, how to be a good support system for my family and friends.

With all these things in mind I want to wish all Canasta Goddesses, their mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters a wonderful and happy Mothers Day. 

Much love, Barbara