YOU PLAY THE HAND YOUR DEALT...

Life is not matter of holding good cards, but playing a poor hand well.

His life wasn't easy -- growing up so fast... Raising his siblings, on the sweat of his brow. He worked hard to keep them together -- a family, the were… And no matter the hardships -- he never complained. Not much of a whiner.., he had no time for that… And he looked forward to a time, when could feed them.., more than -- one meal a day. He studied before work and worked after school. Got grants for what he could.., and financial aide, too.

But when all that was pulled by some bureaucrats error… He was sure he would crumble -- he couldn't take anymore! He had been trying so hard.., but barely succeeding. And just as he was ready, to throw in the towel… He'd hear a simple sentence, that would sturdy his spine -- the only advice his father ever gave, before he took off -- You Play The Hand Your Dealt.

You see, his mother had passed giving birth to their little sister (who was her spitting image). I thinks that part of the reason there Dad split. He could remember the sadness in his eyes, every time he looked at her...

The ONLY "normal" family moment he could remember them having -- was at some lake. He still doesn't know to this day which lake, but that's neither here nor there. But while there, the ONLY time he remembers them all together as a family. Him, his little Bro, Dad & Mom was pregnant with our baby Sis. It was that day... He uttered that phrase, that rings in his head to this very day... "You Play The Hand Your Dealt, Kid... You Play The Hand Your Dealt...". That second time he said it -- he looked so helpless.

That morning their parents found out there could be difficulties with their Moms pregnancy. So, they took them to this really nice lake... And they were trying to explain it as best they could, without scaring the crap out all of them. (It amazes me to this day, how close they all were...) And that's were his Dad threw out that infamous phrase that would stay with him his whole life… And made them all feel like everything would be okay no matter what -- "You play the hand your dealt." Maybe it was just the way he said it. He didn't even, really, know what it meant -- but it made his Mom smile and everything seemed like it would be OKAY...

That's the LAST & ONLY "NORMAL" FAMILY memory he has -- and he didn't whine about it. I only bring it up because those words have served him well. Even the night he realized his Dad was NEVER coming back. See, I don't have to tell you things were NEVER the same, after there Mom passed. And his Dad went down hill pretty fast. He couldn't get by it -- they were SO CLOSE. His mind just went... And then, so did he.

His first instinct was to panic -- run far away… But before he could move, before he could bolt.., he heard a faint voice. He knew no-one was there but he turned around anyway.., and he heard, clear as day -- "You play the hand your dealt, kid." After drying his eyes, he walked for awhile… Wondering how he would he keep it together.

It was hard, those first years -- still in High School. Making sure his little brother and sister had everything they needed to get to school on time -- clean, dressed properly, in the right state of mind to actually learn something. In order to do that.., meant he was up at 4:00am every morning, run over to the butcher shop, about a mile n' a half from his front door, to meet the deliver guys and unload the meat delivers for the day. Run back a mile n' a half, shower that stink off him, make sure everybody was feed and off to school. Then, he started his day!

Then, out of the blue -- ALL of his financial aid, gov't grants -- EVERYTHING was pulled right out from under him… With really no explanation, at all.

He wanted to run. Just leave everything behind. All the responsibility. WHAT THE F*CK?! They NEVER asked for ANYTHING! FROM ANYBODY! They didn't have huge credit card debt (heck, they never held a credit card in their hands), they didn't refinance a house they couldn't afford to begin with, just to put in a pool. They lived in a two room rent stabilized piece of crap. But they paid the rent, on time, EVERY MONTH! They NEVER got bailed out. And they didn't whine, like all these so-called, self-indulgent "Captains of Industry," who seem to always have their hand out…

It's these moments in life that would test his, very fiber

Needless to say, he didn't run... he sucked it up... and played the hand he was dealt. But he, really did, want to run. Who could blame me. Even his brother & sister would have understood. They saw and experienced the worst of humanity, right along with him and perservered. They watched as people his age, dated, went to movies, out to dinner -- all the "normal" things. As he went off to another job, one after the other, so they would not go without. And, so they could all stay together -- a family. They also watched him start to get bitter & angry.

And, it wasn't until one day, the owner of the butcher shop asked him -- "What do you write in that book everyday?!" Writing was his only escape… Adulthood started early.., he missed out on "those moments" we're all supposed to experience… So he wrote all time, night and day. About things that they'd been through.., how he imagined it could be... "You should write a book!"

As if a light bulb went off -- a smack in the face… He would write a book and tell his story. It was easy for him, it was part of his life. The first day it came it came out.., it flew off the shelves. He left work early that day, in lieu of his new found success. But before he ran out -- "Wait, you forgot to take your meat for the day." And as he ran out the door, he would turn and say -- Not today Joe.., we're goin' out tonight!

They had not eaten in a restaurant, since their Mom died -- first time for Bess.

On the way home, he stopped off.., and the salesgirl helped pick out a pretty little dress for Bess and than he grabbed a new pair of sneakers for his little bro... And ran faster than he normally did all the way home. And when he burst through the door, they were decorating the apartment with balloons. And had some Hostess cupcakes out on the table with candles in them. IT WAS BESS'S BIRTHDAY!

It's funny how things can workout.., sometimes everything just falls into place.

That was always a pretty difficult day... Considering, that was also the day there mother died... And for the first time since it had happened he had forgotten. He was so focused on the book. But, it was also one of those days where you can feel, deep in your bones, that there is something watching out for you. Something greater than yourself that you are a part of... Some kind of synchronicity. After all.., he was planning on taking them out to dinner -- for the first time ever. Now they could celebrate like everyone else. In a real restaurant.

He threw the sneakers on the floor for his brother to wear and laid the dress out for Bess, on her side of the room. The look on her face when she saw it broke his heart (in a good way). And, before he broke down completely, he said , "come on, get dressed we got a birthday to celebrate and we don't want to be late for our dinner reservations!"

Needless to say.., they all partied, that night. All the people in the restaurant sang Happy Birthday to Bess. They toasted each other with Shirley Temples and milk shakes.., laughing and just enjoying each other. Since that's really all they ever had. Each other. And right before they left, Bess stood up on her chair.., and toasted their beautiful mother and told her how proud she would be of her two boys... The whole restaurant cheered & cried, at the same time. It was an unbelievably touching moment and an -- amazing night.

Now, here is where it gets REALLY CRAZY...

When they got home that night.., and finally settled down from all the fun…Before calling it a night, after putting the kids to sleep... For some reason, something told him to check his messages -- it was filled to the max. His publisher called -- a famous actress loves the book, "She wants to make it a movie.., and she is already talking about a trilogy!" An author was born…

The book he had penned, "A Little Girl Named Bess" had touch hearts worldwide.., like she touched his everyday. The strength that she owned, the confidence she displayed -- it's as if she had known.., it would all turn out this way.

He never looked back -- it was more books.., and movies from there… Their life was secure, no more fear of separation -- or one meal a day. He still gets his meat from Joe the Butcher.., and Bess sits on the Board of at least half a dozen children's charities. And through it all.., he never counted himself out -- you never know what life has in store for you. You just play the hand your dealt.., and don't whine about it!

Life is a gamble… Hit me!

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