Maybe completing my collection was possible in my lifetime after all. I hurried home to dig out the old collection - gosh where was that envelope even hidden - and found to my pleasant surprise that I needed both the 7 of clubs and the 10 of spades. This one too had something written on the back, “You are disiplined (sic).” Huh? You feel like the 7 of clubs? What does that mean? I could understand the phrase on a queen or a king, or even an ace, but a 7? Within a few steps, a 10 of spades. On the back of the 7 was written the phrase: “The way I feel when I am with you.” You see it’s a playing card and I have this collection” I mumble awkwardly. “Excuse me total stranger, I have to stop and pick up some garbage. As we walked and talked, I spotted a 7 of clubs face up at Redcar Ave. On The East Mall just south of Bloor St., another walker engaged me in conversation. It was midmonth and I was on a 90-minute walk to Cloverdale Mall. I managed to collect 39 unique cards over many years and then virtually forgot about my collection until this past January. When it comes to popular litter, they rank low. Plus discarded playing cards are hard to find. I’m not out every weekend searching through refuse in hopes of a queen of clubs.

This is not an active pursuit like, say, rock collecting or antiquing. I am trying to assemble a complete deck of 52 playing cards made up of cards I find on the street (or in a park, gutter, on a floor, etc.). I have two hobby/interests: walking and taking pictures, plus a quirky collection related to those interests and not yet complete.

Love strange love playing cards