The best part of this is, I don't know if Part 1 was on my blog or a comment on one of Scott's posts months ago... and I don't care either way. To bring you up to speed, a "Cinematic Moment" is a term I came up with to describe a something that was so fluid and perfect that normally it only happens on TV or in a movie. Kind of like if you're playing pool and you call a ridiculously complicated shot and it all works (even though you could never do it again). Or sometimes its just a bit of banter that you and someone else may be having and you are on fire with the comebacks. Anyways, This weekend:
It was my sister Jamie's, 21st birthday and my family and a few friends all went out to "The Boat" to go gambling. I'm not a big gambler, but I like it. And blackjack is my game. I know the odds the best on it and I tend to win more than I lose. That's because I only bring $20 to the table, so I can never lose too much, but my winnings vary. I was doing pretty well that night. My high was $75 and my low was about $15. Near the end I had $50 in chips in front of me. That's when the bad luck started to hit. I, pretty much, lost 5 hands in a row. That put me down to my last chip ($25) and I walked away from the table. I've got great self control - I've left the casino up by $5 before and I'm fine with that. The problem was that Jamie had just recently sat down at that table and my mom and friend Phil were still going strong. So I sat there and "advised" and such for the next 5 or 6 hands. But a man can only take so much!!! I visibly wrestled with the idea for a moment and then slammed down my one $25 dollar chip.
The casino went silent and everyone turned to look at me (at least in my mind) . I picked my chip up slowly and looked at it, turning it in my fingers. "This was it," I thought to myself "my whole life has built up to this moment." I held it out to Jamie for her to blow on it, it was her birthday and all, and I could use some of that luck right now. The dealer made the final bets signal and it was on. My first card... a 10 of spades lay before me. I didn't even see what everyone else got. I could hardly swallow, my throat was thick. At that moment the odds were in my favor, odds are the next card is going to be a 10 or something close. And if it was an Ace, I'd be buying a round of drinks for everyone at the table... I wouldn't need to worry about getting a job ever again. The Dealer's eyes and mine met, he knew how much I had riding on this. Then the dealer did something I didn't realize they could do... He peeked. But it didn't matter I saw it flash in his eyes, as briefly as it was, and I knew that look wasn't good. A five of hearts. That put me at 15 and the dealer had a King of Clubs showing... It was over in my mind. I wanted to lean over and smack Jamie for her damned luck. A 15 is the second worst hand you could have (next to the dreaded 16). I looked around the table and asked disparagingly, "What should I do?" That's when one of the strangers looked me in the eyes and said, "There's only one thing to do." I whirled around to the dealer and slammed my hand on the table. "Hit Me." And he knew I meant business. No peeking this time, the dealer threw my card down for everyone to see. My stomach clinched... a 6 of Hearts... wait... that put me at 21... I couldn't believe it. I did the math several times in my head to make sure I was right. The dealer flipped over his face down card to reveal a Jack of Spades. My 21 beat his 20. I was a GOD AMONGST MERE MEN!!!! "I'm King of the World!!!" I shouted as I threw my hands into the air. The entire room burst out into thunderous applause. I had stared the devil in the face, and the devil backed down. I left that place with 3 times the money I had when I walked in.
Take that you pirate-bastards.
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5 comments:
That.
Was.
Hilarious.
I like the fleshed out description of the cinematic moment. And yeah, it was from a comment on my blog, but fear not, a mere comment on my blog is equal to 10 posts on other blogs. I love the term by the way, I use it myself now. Naturally, I let people assume it's my own. But when I write my memoirs I'll be sure to credit you. So you'll get some recoginiton, because let's face it; these are going to be some best selling friggin' memoirs.
You know what, I think you should probably write more descriptive entries like this. I seriously laughed out loud, which I haven't done from reading blogs in a good while. At least not when they meant me to. I'll occasionally read something that's just so rediculous or poorly written I can't help it. (No offense to those whose blogs I laugh at... but really. This IS the internet you know).
Anyway, that's it for now I have to pack for my Seattle trip which starts tomorrow. So I'm out.
- Scott
Scott's right, this one WAS laugh out loud funny, and since I've been moping around AWR with a chip on my shoulder as heavy as Michael Moore, laughing out loud is a BIG deal.
Of course, I laugh out loud reading Scott's blog almost every time, so it was a pleasant change to see Robby back to the good stuff.
Not much time to talk, I'm not having a great day and I don't want to bring every one down since your post was such a classic. Keep it up kid!
~K
I LOVE it. I often like to narrate my life... sometimes even as it's occuring. I always thought it was kind of weird, but I'm not the only one who does it! I'm glad to see that somebody else has turned a part of their life into a wonderfully dramatic event.
Great Blog rob, very cute! The ONLY part that you have a little off is that this birthday girl's luck lasts the WHOLE hand! So it was due to MY bday luck that you got that 21 and walked out with so much money. I mean at least being it My bday and all deserve a little slice of that right? ;)
Your loving awesome sis, Jamie
What a refreshing change of pace from your past semi-serious blogs! This was great...I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I agree with your sister, for providing the luck she deserves a slice of the pie so to say! I enjoyed your detailed description of what was probably a three second event!
Tabitha
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