Too many times in life – no matter what category we fit it into, be it work, socialite functions, fame/infamous publicity, or any number of spotlight events – we get caught up in our own existence and formulate an idea of self that usually makes us feel we are separate, isolated, even smug because we elevate ourselves to a level that makes us feel we’re better than everyone else.

I have my own categories, created by me, some that keep me grounded and facing reality, some that are what dreams are made of, and others that could be described as nightmares…the black holes of depression and life that saturate the world around me, and in turn, force me to take a harsh step into reality; for one with my fragile mental threads – on any given day – there are some things that I cannot stand to even fade.  That always brings up the question: how important are certain issues, how important am I in the role of those issues, when is it time to step back and realize that nothing I’m doing or can do is important, and what the hell makes some of the rest of the world think they are so damned important?

The stage is set…

Everyone involved in this little window of life is important and MOI has a small part in it.  It’s a tale that needs to be told to let the world know how fragmented pieces of life come together and – hopefully – make a difference in someone else’s life. I got an email from Steve that he would be coming into town last week.  He would be in Thursday evening, could we get together on Friday for breakfast or lunch, and he needed a favor.  Part of his email:

“1. Favor:  I have a friend whose fiancee is very, very sick. Terminally ill and has been losing hope. I told my friend about Doyle’s two miracles, and thought maybe I could get him to autograph a book for her?

I was thinking any of them would be fine, but know his story is in the Poker Wisdom one.

If you can pull this off the woman’s name is Rashun”

I sent him back an email, explaining that it was a definite maybe.  First I would have to find the book, second I would have to find Doyle, and since I’m not in the Rio everyday and had heard that Doyle was exhausted from playing the events, it was a really a hit or miss deal.  I asked Steve to pick up the book on Friday as I had hoped to pick up Riot for the weekend and be heading out to Pahrump and perhaps Steve could hand the book off to me in passing, etc.

On Friday I got a call from Steve.  I was stressed to the max.  Riot was supposed to be at the dentist – last I heard – and having two teeth pulled and I hadn’t heard a word from momparental.  My air card was giving me fits and I was trying to do some much needed work before I could even consider leaving the house, etc., etc., etc.  My time supply allotted for the day had already run out and I was at the bottom of the empty time bank frantically pushing the ‘more’ button that continually gave me a pop up reading “empty.”  I came upon the brilliant idea that Carmen Bates would be at Bellagio that evening around 6:30 and Steve could stop by and give her the book, since Doyle plays a lot in Bobby’s Room and Steve was coming back next week and could pick it up then.  I left the phone conversation with the thought that Steve would stop by “B” and I sent a text to Carmen, explaining the deal.

Hours went by.

I got a text back from Carmen, <<Saturday>>

UGH!  This wasn’t going to work at all.  I sent her back one and asked if she was at Suzie and Howard Lederer’s WSOB and if Steve could stop by there and give her the book – Steve had seen her at Bellagio before and knew what she looked like.  I waited for her answer – more time went by.

I called Steve about 5:30 and told him the whole meet and book drop with her at Bellagio was skewed.  I told him she might be at the Nugget for the Boys and Girls Club charity tourney and he wasn’t far from there, he could stop by.  As we spoke, I got a text from Carmen to send him over, give him her phone # and have him text her when he got there.  WOOOOOT!  Done deal.

Within 15 minutes I got a text from Carmen, “Doyles signing the book as we speak”
OMG!  How kewl is that?  Steve called me a few minutes later.  He had some really kind words for me…at that moment I felt quite important…and had some tears creep into my eyes.  Naw…I wasn’t crying but I sure felt like a small cog in the big gear of life and it was nice.

I do hope each and every one of you will take a moment, wish Rashun the best of the best, and tuck her into your prayer envelope – and enjoy the importance of the small things in life.  They are so damned important.