Know When To Run
Saturday night, following Karen and Jason’s shower, Carla, Christine and I hopped into the Princess Mobile and headed north on I-35. Exit 1 in Oklahoma is home to Winstar Casino, a gaming facility run by the Chickasaw Indian tribe.
We arrived at the casino around 10pm. I put my first $20 bill in a machine, and started trying my luck at the “slots“. I had no real luck for a long time.
Finally, three hours and $60 invested later, my luck turned. I went up $160 of pure, sweet profit on the “Cherry Pop”. I was giddy with thoughts of spending my winnings. Alas, the nickels began slipping away. I rebounded briefly, but eventually lost all my profits.
I walked away from the machine at that point, breaking even for the night, and looked for Carla and Christine. They were both still playing and winning, so I decided to try my luck at other machines. And I kept losing, and losing, until I was down $40 again.
I began to realize that playing the slots are a lot like relationships. I had a great relationship with Cherry Pop. Over time, though, the relationship began to lose its sparkle.
Oh sure, there was that one great moment where the relationship briefly rebounded, but that was really just the beginning of the end. I got out of my relationship with Cherry Pop even, with no real hurt feelings, but still a sense of loss for the greatness that was.
I should have called it a night then, but I rebounded big time. I went from machine to machine looking for what I once had. Ultimately, there was no satisfaction from my string of brief rebound flings. No machine could do it for me like Cherry Pop.
Who knew that a late night of gambling gaming across the state line could make me wax metaphorical?
what’s that saying? you’ll never forget your first.
Who does Cherry Pop represent in your life?
There is no Cherry Pop. I’m only assuming that is how things might work based on what I’ve seen on TV.
I’m struck by the name “Cherry Pop”. How appropriate since the machine stole a bit of your innocence, leaving you with only a slightly bitter, and somewhat jaded outlook. First’s can be like that. But no matter how good that $160 might have seemed, trust me girl, when you start finding the slots that pay off in the $1000s, then you will remember why you’re gaming in the first place.
Isn’t playing the slots for $1000 sort of like just waiting around for prince charming? If a loosing streak after $160 was bad, $1000 could be suicidal.