I had attempted to move through my days per normal. But deep down, I knew it was coming. After the Murrah building bombing, it was five days later while watching the memorial, it hit. After the May 3rd tornado, after helping a friend salvage what she could from her destroyed home and 3 days working with the Red Cross disaster team, it hit. It was about 3 days after the World Trade center fell, it hit. Last week it hit on Wednesday. I'd logged off from playing a little online. I'd spent most the day at work following CNN and WWLV online, so I turned on the tv to catch the latest CNN reports before going to bed.
It was a woman, in tears and in full desperation, crying and out of hope - she spoke of the conditions, no food, no water, no sanitation, no relief . It was then it hit. The grief, the feeling of helplessness, rage, sadness, heartache - it all came to the surface. Then I thought of my New Orleans story - a story blithely relating a 7 day party and the trivialities of stinky port-a-potties and no shower and it seemed horribly insensitive and crass. So I pulled it. And then let the tears came.
For the next couple of days my body rebelled. I was physically ill. Experience has taught me, though, that this is my way of working through emotional upheaval and to let it run its course. Friday afternoon, I begged off work early. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I got home, loved on my girls, getting lots of purring affection in return. I then decided to escape and go to the T-Bird. I didn't know if I'd make it back for the Full Tilt relief tourney, but I wasn't going to worry about it if I didn't. I needed diversion.
While waiting for a table at the Bird, I had a nice conversation with Joy, one of the room managers, then this gentleman came up to me and asked. "Are you Maudie the blogger?" It took a second or two to register the question, and then I cautiously said, "Yes." He then said he read my blog. I was stunned and even more-so when I learned he was visiting on business from Houston - he wasn't even a local. We talked a bit - he reads most of the blogs, and it seems he's a big fan of Grubby, too. I was very flattered. So, Mike from Houston, here's your official shout-out - thanks for reading!
My 3/6 table was friendly and laden with suck-out artists. Last week was the table of flushes with the 9s being the hot one. This week was the table of straights, and again, the 9s was the hot one. Same seat, different player. This guy played nearly every hand and flopped so many straights, I began to question my strategy. He also got some boats in there, too - one cracking my pocket queens with a rivered boat. His hole cards? T-6 off suit. It was the only hand where I steamed a bit. I left the table to go get something to eat.
After I returned, I pulled in some nice pots and should have cashed in. I'd been swimming against a strong current all evening, so I should have been glad for a near double up and left. But I wasn't ready to. I managed to bleed most of the gains back. I finally gave up and left with a $6 gain.
Back at home, I was greeted with a chat-room invite on my computer screen. I joined to see if anyone was still there. Several were and I learned they were playing in a penny NL game over at Stars, the FT tourney being completed. I logged in to watch, eventually getting a deposit going and joined the fray. It was great - silly and fun. And relaxing. I began to feel the veil lift. Funny how spending a little time with pals can help. Good medicine.
Saturday morning was the regular meeting of the "bruncheros." We gathered at new spot - sans Corson who was off to Cincinnati for a snake hunt. I relished being with good friends who I could talk to, laugh with. I was warmed by their company. Later, I went out to a little cafe at the lake to meet up again with "the Corkster" and "Myrt." We have mutual friends who play in a group and have a yearly gig every weekend of the summer out there. There were other folks I knew there, who I hadn't seen in years. It was almost like a reunion. I sat on the deck, a light breeze from the lake, good music and with good friends. It doesn't get any better.
Of course, being at the lake meant I was minutes from the casino. So when I left the cafe, I headed to the Bird. After a long wait, a new table was opened up. It was late - about 11 pm, so I shouldn't have been surprised that there would be some fully tanked folks at the table. The 1s was loud, vulgar and received numerous warnings from the dealers. His buddy in the 8s told him to shut up, but the buddy wasn't in great shape, either. 1s sat short-stacked, and I resolved to relieve him of it as quickly as possible. Which I did. He did one short buy, which was gone in a couple of hands, and so was he.
It was clear early on that I was probably the best player at the table - save for a gentleman on my right, who pulled a check raise on me - once - and showed a decent hand. I kept my eye on him. The rest of the table was either drunk or weak/passive or both. I took full advantage of it when I could. Save for the 8s and the 9s - who both were draining the bar dry of Crown and cokes - the table changed over fairly quickly. The room was thinning out, and it didn't look like our table was going to hold together much longer. I played one last hand, making a flush against pocket jacks held by the 8s. That pot pushed me past doubling up my buy-in and I bid everyone goodnight.
Out of the ashes of singed spirit, the Phoenix rises, over and over again. Life slowly returns to a routine, albeit a routine forever altered by extraordinary events. Whether those events be of a global nature or a personal one, we can be healed by the caring smile of another, the warmth of the arms of our loved ones, a hand up from a stranger...Whatever it takes, we go on.
Party Poker has scheduled a fund-raising tourney for September 7 (Wednesday) at 8:55 pm (EST) - $30 + $0 entry. 90% of the entry fee + 100 % match will be donated to a hurricane relief fund. You can find this tournament under the “Special Tournaments” tab in their lobby.
Scott is putting out a call to RV & mobile home owners - follow the link for how you can help.
Poker Stars has organized several tournies to raise funds for the Red Cross. Follow the link for the details.
For an up-to-date list of disaster relief organizations go to FEMA.
American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish
