For a decade, my husband and I would travel with a group of friends to Las Vegas every other year. We enjoyed gambling but also did a lot of sightseeing and took day trips to places like the Hoover Dam and the Bunny Ranch. Just checking to see if you’re paying attention. We did NOT see any bunnies while in Nevada.
Atlantic City is about 100 miles from our home and also somewhere we went from time to time. We were always careful to gamble only the money we had set aside, even if we lost it all in the first hour. We always had fun going to casinos, whether in the desert or by the ocean.
Our financial situation has changed drastically since my vision loss and this form of entertainment no longer holds the appeal for us that it once did. I also can’t really see the slot and poker machine screens which greatly takes away from the experience.
The other day, while spell checking my blog post in preparation of publishing, while the little wheel spun in the middle of my iPad, I felt that familiar thrill and anticipation: would I “hit the jackpot” and have no errors? It was a particularly long post, so the odds were against me. A pop-up finally appeared to let me know that I didn’t make any mistakes. There were no sound effects to go along with the win but it still gave me a little rush. I was surprised by the feeling in my stomach and the holding of my breath, but I suppose I shouldn’t have been. I am highly competitive, even with myself, and always want to achieve high marks. I am also several cards short of a full deck and the reason for my excitement could be as simple as that.
While I remember our low-roller visits to Sin and Atlantic cities with extreme fondness, I have since learned this: The best thing to gamble on is yourself. Sure, winning at a casino is fantastic, but there are no higher stakes than when you play the hand life deals you. And if given the big blind*, go all-in.
*The blinds are forced bets posted by players to the left of the dealer in certain poker games. To learn more, click here.