Tarot

So it's official: I have been initiated into French society. There is a fine line between the foreigner who knows the country well and he/she who is fully accepted. That line?

Tarot. The Frenchies are obsessed with it.

Not the divinatory kind of tarot that you're thinking about. No, no. Tarot the card game. The game with points and suits and strategy. With the funny deck and the crazy terminology and the scoring system that makes no sense.

I come from a long line of card players. Much to The Boy's chagrin, I could play cards every weekend, all weekend, and probably not get sick of it. Our family is an active card-playing family, and my parents are even the kinds of bridge players who go to championships. Who TAKE PLANES to go to bridge championships. They've even won a few (seriously, they're obsessed -- deserves-a-whole-blog-post obsessed).

So when my Frenchie friends suggest they teach me France's favorite card game, I got all bubbly and excited and ready to rumble. I figured I catch on quickly to card games, thanks to my extensive background, and it can't be that hard, right? Except that, damn -- I had to figure out the deck, first. And oh, aces are low. Stop thinking they're high! And by the way, there is a whole other suit - and it's always trump. And an additional face card, for a total of five.

And also? It's every man for himself, except that each turn its actually everybody ganging up on one person. By the way, you can't organize your cards before you place your bids (what the hell kind of rule is that? Shouldn't that be my own choice???) And? This is the real kicker: YOU CAN'T FREAKIN' SHUFFLE.

The explanation process was a little long and difficult (ok, five minutes, but it was totally overwhelming), and I started getting the hang of it after two or three rounds. They assured me that I was learning extra-quickly, but I felt like a dumbass nonetheless. At one point, Vegas fake-suggested I do something and I didn't understand he was being sarcastic, and I said, "Oh... ok...." and put down the card as indicated. Everyone erupted in laughter: ha ha! Look at the girl who STILL doesn't know how to play! On her second round! I said, "Shut up!!! I'm still learning!!!" But it was all in good fun.

Now, however, there is a small, tarot-playing beast growing inside of me. I keep reconsidering rounds and thinking of tactical possibilities. I'm also on the lookout for a cheap tarot deck, and possibly the English translation of the French terminology so that I can teach my family how to play at Christmas. That would be one more game to play together, and that can't be a bad thing.

Ok, I'll just come right out and say it: I'm going to study up over the next few days and TOTALLY CRUSH MY FRIENDS at our next tarot meeting - currently set for a week from now. Hell, with online games, you can really advance quickly. That is, I assume so. I've never really tried. But I've got a mission.

Bring it on, Frenchies!