The 4th of July. A day with meaning…too much for even me to ponder at this moment. I’m happy to be here, in America, and FREE!

I’m sad too! Halil, one of my co-workers at Bellagio, died of a heart attack on his way to work Saturday night. We always crossed paths on our way to Mangia and back to the poker room. The conversation went something like this:

Halil, “What are we doing here again?”

Me, “Hell if I know…no place better I guess.”

*laughing*

The next encounter:

“Honey, what the hell are we doing here?”

Me, “There are worse places to be.”

Halil, “Really? Like where?”

Me, “We’re really pretty lucky to have a job and a life. Where else would you rather be?”

Halil, “I’d rather be in Hawaii, sitting on the beach with a couple of girls.”

*laughing*

Me, “If you’d taken better care of your money, you could be.”

Halil, “No shit, Honey! Don’t I know it.”

Well…sadly for me, and others I’m sure, he is someplace else now. He’s missed already.