steffan

I've been collecting discarded playing cards for about 6 years now. I'm trying to assemble a complete deck. I have 13 cards remaining, but the actuarial reality of probability makes the completion of the deck less and less likely with each card that I locate.

Today I found the two of clubs. The recent wet weather had soaked the card and it had divided, back and front. I found the back first, a card from a bicycle deck, back facing up. When I retrieved it, I thought I'd found a blank card, or one washed clean by the rain. Later I found the other half a block away, face up, and I knew when I saw it, that the two of clubs would have no back.

The interesting bit to me, is how each card now has been imbued with a certain circumstance. The condition, the location, the time of day. I make sure to write all of these things down in a notebook that I keep with the cards, but most times if I see that card again, say in a card game with friends, I remember what randomness has tried to tell me about this particular card.

I could read this tarot and tell you, if you drew the two of clubs, that the scenario seems unreadable, but with time, it will become clear.