Mannheim Music Ram
�� It was Friday..and all this week a gang of the girls were planning to go to North Carolina..to the Casino at the Cherokee Reservation..we all were due a little change..and everyone I knew had already been to try out their luck but a couple in the office..and I sure was not going to miss this trip..eager and ready to go after work..we headed off..
The trip itself did not take all that long living on the border of the North Carolina and the Tennessee line..this was going to be great..we had the whole weekend to win those big bucks..what excitement..
Going to our rooms..which we had already made reservations for..we unloaded enough to last a week..grabbing a quick sandwich at a little get it and go place..with a price so high normally you would not buy anything there..but hey this was the reservation and in as much everything was high..and in doing so figured someone would benifit from this outrageous price..we ate in happy thoughts to get to the Casino..arriving there in lest than twenty minutes..we parked after a fifteen minutes drive continually around and around the parking lot finally getting a place closer from the far distance we could have chosen right off when pulling into the parking area..
Walking into the Casino..it was filled..and I had never seen so many people in one place at one time just to win money..there were old and young..you have to be at least eighteen to even get in..but in itself every walk of life was there..rich and I am sure poor alike..looking around I could see there were the typical one armed bandits..now gambling was not my thing..or at least I had never tried it before..and being such it just never did appease me for some reason..
The reality of just being there..walking around and watching was enjoyment enough for me..although I was curious to see how this all worked..in listening to a woman describe how to play these machines..I was still as confused listening than if I had not listened at all..well no harm in giving a chance..we would see..!!
Getting twenty dollars worth of quarters...I and a couple of the other ladies tried to find something in the quarter slot area..this was almost impossible..since all were already taken..just standing and watching who did what was better learning for me than anything else..and in asking questions from a lady already in pursuit of winning with a pile of quarters to her good fortune..I knew I might be able to play this thing after all..
It sure did not take me long to realize this was a quick way to lose money if you did not know what the devil you were doing..and finally just gave up with no forethought of wanting to try this mess again..like I said..this new form of gambling was far more tricky than a hand of playing old maid cards..
Some were winning...and in doing this you would hear bells go off..and lights flashing to nothing but shouting for joy..and others in congratulations for the person who won..wondering how did they do it..and in some cases I could see..they were sitting for hours on end..pouring money into the machines..fast as they could get it into the slot..and the machine taking it's turn in a split second to announce nothing or a win..some I was pretty sure were spending their weekly pay checks..I sure was not going to be that stupid..
Some of the women here with me were winning a little tad of money..ten dollars for one was like a million..and she refused to play any more since in her thinking this was just great with only putting in fifty cents..well it was for her..but others were acting in a frenzy to try for the big money..watching one women casually except over forty two hundred dollars..they were sure they could have this good luck too!..I wondered how long that woman had played..and thought to myself she probably put in a thousand or more to get the return she had won..
After several hours of standing..sitting..and playing a little here from the nickel machines to the dollar machine..I decided to give it up..this was not my thing that's for sure..and I could not visualize why in the world I had been so curious and anxious to get here for this purpose..
We all were getting a little tired..just from the work day and trip to here..and all thought it best we just go back to the motel and relax..no one made any suggestions about out leaving..and in returning to the motel we sat..talked..and had soda's..a couple of the ladies..had a bottle or two of wine..and I did except a small sip just to relax and unwind..it was a strong bitter taste..and that sure did not make me want any more..
Most all I knew with this group of ladies..were really swell people..but there were a couple who found fault in everything..from the room..to the food..and also the casino..they just had to complain..and nothing seem to satisfy their alter ego...boy I sure knew if we all got together again for some reason or other those two would be left out and never asked to accompany us again..I could see why I had heard a little about these two..but all in all they were nice ladies..but just liked to fuss..always wanting to keep something going..if it did not go their way..this I overlooked..and tried to stay clear of both..
After three days of looking and walking into shops..which were no more than the usual tourist traps with prices sky high I was really ready to go home..and say this had been an experience..but on the last day before we left..some chose to go back to the Casino..well having seen about all there was to Cherokee along the main drag I decided to go along..although I really did not want to deep down..I did not want to look at shops again for the hundredth time..or sit alone in the motel room...
Back in the Casino with all the hundreds of people going and doing ..I decided to play just to kill time..thinking this would be another wasted few dollars...why not..so in finding a dollar machine close and a empty chair..I sat on the stool..and proceeded to play..inserting a dollar I came up a winner of five..well I'll be..!! I had finally won something..and the four extra dollars was better than losing the one..I tried again..only winning the one dollar back I had inserted into the machine..sitting there alone..I knew I had about fifty dollars in one dollar bills..normally I would not have even thought about doing something like this..but I could afford to waste a little..I was always so conservative..
Blowing money now..and getting to where I did have but three dollars left..I thought this sure was a learning expierence..now it was win or lose..feeling silly over what I had chose to do..to loe the fifty I inserted another one dollar bill..again winning only a dollar back..least I had stayed the same..not lost..after a couple more tries I still was holding my own..finally now with two dollars left I decided just ONE more try..least if I lost or won..I would say I was not broke from the fifty one's I had ..I still would have a dollar left..putting in my last dollar to throw away..all of a sudden there were bells going off..and lights flashing..and people standing or playing were looking in my direction..I was not to sure what was going on only only that I had won something..and seeing that there were three dollar signs in a row..I was sure I had not won all that much..maybe a few hundred dollars..
In a few minutes a lady and a gentleman with a key inserting it into the machine...said "congratulation" your our big winner..smileing I said well that's wonderful..but can you tell me how much I have won..they looked at me in amazement..and then the lady said..well from this machine here I am glad to tell you that you have won a million dollars..if you will come with us we will tell you how you can acquire your money ..
I just sat there..nothing was pressuring..a million dollars...how..I did not even know how to play this machine..I could not believe it..still in shock..I couldn't say anything..just sat there with my mouth hanging open..a MILLION DOLLARS..
Now all the excitement was for me..people were gathering around..and crying..clapping..patting me on the back..and saying congratulations..what are you going to do with all that money..question after question..all I knew what that I had won..and this had to be a higher fate than just luck..Oh thank you Lord I was saying to myself..and walking to the main office..I heard some of the girls saying "way to go"..this was my day..my one day in my life I was top dog..and what a wonder of a day it was..
That has been some time ago..I still do work..have invested some..helped some people who needed it..gave to the church of my choice..and charity I wanted too..and after the few months now that have passed I still get calls from those I don't even know wanting help..I help when I can..but I sure have found that if one does have any amount of money to account for in their life..it does not always bring happiness..sometimes it can be a hardship..people want to take advantage..you have to be wise..and have some common sense..don't always go with the thoughts others have..and keep good thoughts for those less fortunate..and hope that tomorrow will be a better day for everyone..above all this was not fate..or luck..or rubbing a rabbits foot..this hand was delt by someone higher and I thank God for the daily love and friendships of those who still think of you as just the person you really are whether you have money or not...
By
YUSHA�� 1999
Images by Kyusha
