The Power of Pedro:
A Card Game Passed Down from Generation to Generation
by Morgan Blaettler
Every game has a unique backstory. The card game Pedro( PEE-dro) encompasses everything home means to me. It is family, fun, excitement. It brings people together, carries on tradition, and holds the memory of those we love most. It’ s childhood and adulthood, wisdom and youth all in one melting pot of strategy and, of course, luck.
Pedro is an American 4-player trick-taking card game that evolved from the games All Fours and Pitch. It originated in the late nineteenth century in Denver, Colorado. Today, the card game remains most popular in Louisiana, Western states, Nicaragua, and Finland.
My parents taught me Pedro when I was about 8. I was the youngest in my family to learn, but I caught on quickly, and soon, I was ready for the big leagues. I became an extra player at Pedro parties, family gatherings, and spontaneous gameplay with my parents and Aunt Robin who lives next door. I was mastering the craft that had been passed down from generation to generation in my mom’ s family.
My grandma, Barbara Drewitz, was whom I inherited my love for card games and my passion for Pedro. She was a light in every room, a warmth the whole family wanted to be around. So, of course, her vivacious energy became contagious through card playing. And many of us on my mom’ s side of the family, much like my grandma, were drawn to Pedro.
When my grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’ s in 2020, my parents and I continued to go over to her house and play Pedro with her. She might not have been able to remember what she had for breakfast that morning, but her skill and love for the game was undeniable. She outbid us, called us out on minor mistakes nobody else caught, and more times than not, she gave us a run for our money.
After her passing in 2024, we continued to carry on her memory through card games, especially Pedro. When I come home from college, it is one of the activities I most look forward to. It brings family and friends of all skill levels together.
( Continued...)
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