“Bill wants to play Pinochle tonight, can you play?”

Always ready for cards, I quickly accepted.

It struck me as a little odd that the woman who asked me wasn’t able to play, but was striving to find other players.

“What’s the big deal?” I thought to myself… I love Pinochle, but we can always play another night.

I was the last to arrive and the cards were already dealt and sitting on the table… Bill seemed so happy that I came and held my hand with tight warmth as I greeted him.

Some pre-game chit-chat was underway… no, I’m fine, I’m not thirsty… it was so hot today… tomorrow is going to be worse… I haven’t seen you in a couple of days… so, Bill, how are you doing?… … …

The cards sat on the table as Bill talked about how the pacemaker he got just two weeks before was working, but his heart was fibrillating and he had to go and get it shocked back to normal…

Evidently, Bill’s cardiac doc doesn’t say much… Bill is always probing, looking for answers… and comfort.

The cards sat on the table as my Pinochle partner suggested we pray right then. We held hands and lifted Bill up in prayer… looking for comfort no doctor could give him.

We played cards… but it wasn’t our purpose there. The woman who asked me to play was really asking me to care… to spend time with someone who needed to share their burdens.

We lost ourselves in a couple of games of Pinochle and enjoyed the camaraderie and competition that go with it… then it was time to go.

As with most things here, we helped clean up and put the chairs, snacks, light and table away… it’s just something we do.

At the door, Bill’s grip on my hand was not wanting for age or his current ailments… the woman next to me encouraging Bill that the Lord had him in His arms… not here to play cards… I was here to care… I gave Bill a bear hug and felt the tension release from him along with a sigh filled with angst.

Through breaths and a few tears Bill shared his fear… defibrillation can jar other things loose… all older people have small clots near their valves… one could break loose and go straight to… he pointed to his head.

We covered him in understanding and friendship and left him smiling as the door closed.

While I could tell you who won the card games last night… somehow it seems more important to tell you to look out for opportunities to leave your cards sitting on the table.