The joy of winning...

Mom loved her card games and gambling and although I don't know where she got the fever, I know it gave her joy. When computer software came with several versions of solitaire, you couldn't get her off of the computer. She loved bid whist, scratch tickets, the dog track, horse races and when Blackhawk and Central City opened up in the Colorado Hills, she could disappear for hours. She had so much fun winning, and when she won comps in restaurants, she would take us along and we could invite our friends. A couple of times, she let some people we didn't even know join us. She loved sharing the winning feeling and even though I wasn't a fan of gambling and what it represented, when she found out she was sick, she still tried with all her strength to make it to those hills. The day she had to physically let it go because her body lacked in energy, I think she began to lose her will because the thrill of the trip gave her life meaning and the anticipation of winning was exciting. The lights, the environment, the clinging of the coins, the other players, all represented the big pay back. But what if that is what life is? A series of games, experiences, challenges, where the object is to win some, lose some...we're all in this big world together hoping to get the shot at making it big and that is what keeps us going. Big doesn't have to be a cash prize, it could be whatever your heart desires and your willingness to lay your bid on the line to achieve the kitty.
I know the place where she exists in spirit is the big pay back...winnings beyond comprehension and a prize too large for one to hold. And after seven years, I know she's still watching over us all, guiding us towards our individual jackpots and hopefully, we'll learn to pay our blessings forward...to me, that is the true joy of winning on a day in the remembrance of a life that only exists in memory...R.I.P. Mom and thank you for showering us with protection, riches and blessings from above where no longer do we wonder how and why, we just say, 'thank you'.