I Did Eventually Win

Louis Clark & beloved pipe
sleeping somewhere on a river bank in Alaska circa 1958

You wouldn't know from this photo, but I learned an important life lesson from Dad at a young age. As Mom and I were playing our umpteenth game of gin rummy yesterday, she revealed the source of our family perseverance, competitiveness and just do it attitude. Seems that Dad thought his kids should learn that life isn't always fair and we weren't entitled to win just because.

Mom shared that when I was in kindergarten, Dad and I would play endless card games. One night, after listening to Dad win again and again, Mom came out of the kitchen imploring him to let this poor five year old win. Dad's response, "No way. She's got to learn to win on her own merit." Mom couldn't bear it so she went back into the kitchen.

So that explains it. My brothers most likely have their own stories. Today it would be called child abuse. Back then it was called character building.