"The View From the Video Poker Machine"

Last week I spent a few days in Biloxi, Mississippi. A friend and I made the trek down for some rest and relaxation. My wife and her sister were visiting the grandchildren so I was able to go without feeling guilty about leaving my wife home alone.

In Biloxi I parked myself at one of my favorite video poker machines, fed quarters into it, and let my mind go blank. I also observed one of my favorite ways of passing time and that is observing people. In Biloxi you can see all ages, shapes, personalities, etc.

One of the first that I watched was "the indifferent couple." The husband was at a machine on my row and to my right. His wife was on the same row but to my left. Every once in a while she would say something to him and he would grunt a response.

Then she hit four deuces, which means she won two hundred and fifty dollars (these were quarter machines we were playing). "Harry!" she screamed, "I hit four deuces. I saved only one and the other three were dealt to me."

Oooom," he grunted. He didn't even get up out of his seat and walk over and look at what she had done. Now everyone knows that getting a winning hand is more fun if there are people around to see it. But this guy could have cared less. I was more excited about it than he was. When they left I could still feel the atmosphere of indifference that surrounded them.

The next person I observed was a woman in her late forties. She was dressed up a bit, at least more than I was. I always wear shorts and a tee shirt with a hooded parka over it. I rarely shave while I am there and generally look like some sort of beach bum. Anyway this lady was dressed up.

I watched her while she played the machine and she seemed to be so sad. There was a look of loneliness in her eyes that was palpable. I think she thought a nice resort casino might be the place where she could meet some one, but no one came around while she was seated near me. After thirty minutes or so she moved on to another machine, but she left behind an atmosphere of melancholy.

The next couple was my favorite. He was in a wheelchair with one of those nose things on that provides oxygen. She was pushing his chair and kept up a steady stream of pleasantries. She wheeled him beside our row and helped him move to a seat in front of a machine. Then she took the seat next to him.

Every move he made on the machine was brilliant to her or so she said. She encouraged him on every hand, and he responded by explaining all he was doing to her. When he hit a good hand she always patted his hand and said how wonderful it was. They were completely devoted to each other.

He tired rather quickly and soon she was helping him back into the wheelchair and off they went with her pushing and still talking in a loving way to him. They left behind an atmosphere of devotion.

Different people, different types of people, play the video poker machines. You can learn a lot about life and relationships just by keeping your eyes open.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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