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Mention the card game Canasta, and the response is often that parents used to play that or…I think I played that as a kid.  Canasta must have been more popular than Monopoly back in the 50s and 60s.

We’ve resurrected it here in our home town.  Lots of people are playing or re-educating themselves.  It’s relatively easy to learn, just challenging enough and requires strategies you have to work out.

There are multiple versions of the game so house rules should be established. Otherwise, the game can dissolve into chaos.

It can take a few hours to play, so drinks and snacks had better be ready.

Healthy stuff or something everyone will like.

Our parents may have served Mary Jane candies or Necco wafers. They probably sipped mixed drinks while they played. Remember cocktail names like whiskey sour and highball? Today’s card players will probably choose wine or healthy juice or even the ubiquitous bottled water.

Room was made on the card table for ash trays. Smoke filled the room; they puffed as they played. That’s all disappeared now too. But the addiction of the game of Canasta is the same. Try it out and you’ll see.

[Show #374]