My first game was $4-$8 Holdem on table 23. John occupied the 1s. The first time the bet came around to him, I knew we were all in for a hell-u-va long session. He’s older, 70 by his count, and probably had 70 beers at last count.

His voice sounded like he was talking through a pile of mush that had been filled with molasses on a cold winter day in Montana. His bets and raises came in the same way. He knew where he was in the game…no doubt about that…he was just so damn s-l-o-w. I did everything I could to speed up the action and since he was calling and raising some of the bets in the dark, and winning, no one seemed to mind…they all knew they would get their money back if he stayed long enough.

He won a huge pot and I offered to help him stack his chips while he looked at his cards. He said, “Someone at the table might object to your helping me.”

Me, “Hell no they won’t, they just want to see the next hand.”

He then asked, “Is there any chance for you and me getting together?”

I laughed and said, “you’re way too young for me, Pardner.”

That’s when he sprang with the info about the age thing.

I finally called Viliawaun over, (chip runner extraordinaire), and told her that John had too much to drink and was in need of coffee. She notified Kamell.

Kamell came over and told John he was taking his beer and asked if John would be interested in coffee. John just went with it, said he was easy to get along with, and away we went, right to the next hand.

A little later, John asked, “Did that guy take my beer because he was afraid I’d take the whole place apart?”

We all got a chuckle out of that one but in the meantime I explained that the ‘guy’ took his beer because he was concerned for John’s sake. That made John happy and he jammed. Great game if you could stand the lulls while John looked at his cards and decided to bet or raise.

Marsha tapped me out. I gave her the low down. John had a strange, quizzical look on his face when he saw me standing by the next table instead of dealing to him.

I said, “She’s your new guardian angel. Take care of her.”

Someone at the table asked, “Has she been instructed?”

I replied, “Totally!” Big grin here!

My next game was a riot and half but it has to be a post for later. It would take too long to fill in all the details of the conversation and it’s half past my bed time. Nighty night!