Ron is doing my post for the day:

*start email*

—– Original Message —–
From: Ron Robinson
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 4:46 AM
Subject: Ron from Texas says ‘Linda can’t leave…oh well, get to Texas then….’

Linda,

As usual been following your posts religiously. The moment I saw the first truck picture some time ago, I immediately knew what you were going to do.

….Go on the Pro circuit for a Monster Truck rally…..

My second guess (more realistic, I guess) was that you would be hitting the road to become ‘America’s Poker Dealer Extraordinaire’. You would basically show up in local towns, explain who you were, deal the biggest games, get the biggest tokes, slap people down with acerbic wit and before they could respond, be a ghost in the night….

…I mean as ghostly as one can get with a Monster Truck and huge trailer…

Of course, I find out at work yesterday and (YIPPEE!) I get to go to a conference in Vegas again in March. Yet, it looks by your imminent garage sale that I won’t be seeing you. (BIG BIG BOOOO!!! I mean, I am REALLY sad about that).

I was psyched because I would be there mainly in the middle of the week when you worked and I just wanted to sit by you, play some $4-$8 and just laugh through the night (of course, there is the obligatory monster raise with the Hammer on a blind steal).

I think we have met only two or three times months apart and exchanged e-mails a few times. Yet, for a person from Dallas who was literally a total stranger to you, you have made me feel like a good friend.

To the people who read Linda’s blog, let me give you an example of the type of person she is. We met while she was at the Bellagio; I felt we had good chemistry and exchanged e-mails after I left. The next time I was going to Vegas, I had always read she liked wine and asked if it was OK to bring her a bottle. She said yes.

Upon my visit, I see her in the poker room in conversation. I have the wine in a bag (no…not a brown paper one) and walk up to her.

Now, take it from my perspective: we just a met over a few days on my last visit months before. She hasn’t seen me in months. Although I look cool and calm from the outside (I’m 6′ 4″), I felt a little nervous because this lady sees a million faces and five million hands of poker. As I approached her to re-introduce me, she stopped her conversation, walked to me, say ‘Hi’ with surprise and delight and gave me the biggest hug…

At that moment, she melted my crusty ol’ Texas heart.

At that moment, based on a nod of her head, I would slap Sam G., try to bluff Sam F. with the Hammer and basically do anything she wanted within the law (but, hey, we are in Vegas… the law is a little loose).

At this moment, I am sad but happy for Linda; how many people get to do what they want to do with their lives? Think about it. Very few of us.

If Linda wants to hit the road and have her freedom from jerks playing $10-20, then I say “Jerks be damned!”

Dallas does not have legal poker but about an hour’s drive north at the Texas/Oklahoma border, they have Winstar casino which is expanding their poker room. And of course, Shreveport is about 3 hours a way.

Linda, if you walk in either place and with enough notice, I will be standing there with a bottle of wine, a smile on my face and a Texas hug to welcome you on my part of the long road that you may travel.

I ==really== hope I get to see you again either if you are passing through Vegas in early March or through Texas in the months ahead.

OK… get to your garage sale. Don’t let them dimwits try to nickel and dime you on selling your toaster.

If you want $2 for the toaster and the price tag says $2, well, damn it, give me my $2 bucks!!

Two bucks is all you need to pay the first toll fare so you can get to the rest of your life…

Take care,
Ron Robinson

*end email*

See why all you should make sure to introduce yourselves and visit with me when you come into the room! And Ron, I’m not planning on leaving until the end of April… 🙂