Parking at the Casino

I met a friend for lunch today.
I was running a few minutes late (what’s new?) and had never been to the restaurant where we were meeting.
I checked the internet before I went and saw that they validate parking….Harrah’s casino (an old stomping ground) is right next door…they validate parking in Harrah’s lot. I know it well.

I decided I’d park someplace else.

But then…I caught traffic…so I ended up being REALLY late…and it was raining AND…there really wasn’t other parking nearby…I KNEW I wasn’t going to gamble…and I was in such a hurry…so I did it…

As I pulled into the lot, I saw a temporary sign…said ‘special event parking 0-24 hours $40’
Wow $40.
That’s steep.
Then I thought….that web-site that said they validate parking…it was a REVIEW…it wasn’t the restaurant’s site…and I wonder if it was post-Katrina? Everything is different now…I really hope they are going to validate this parking.
The parking ticket that the machine spit out says FREE PARKING for 30 minutes of play.
Now THAT is funny…..thirty minutes of play would cost me a helluva lot more than $40....

Anyway…I parked…had lunch and as I approached the parking garage elevators..to return to my car…there was a guy who had obviously just left the casino…he was sort of dancing around…looked like he just won a million bucks…I remember that feeling…I was moving toward the elevator he was entering when another door opened…..I stepped into the empty elevator…I really don’t want this guy talking to me about his winnings.

Just as the doors are closing…this woman comes running up…she looks frazzled…I held the door for her…she got in.

She was a wreck.
Maybe nobody else would be able to tell…but *I* know that look.
I know that feeling.

She was sort of out of breath…she was holding her validated parking ticket in one hand and her phone in the other….she was trying to call someone…her expression…she was late……she had stayed too long…I know that expression…I know that look.

I exited the elevator on my floor…only to discover I had no idea where I’d parked. WAS this my floor???
Cute!
The garage is pretty full..and a car is slowly following me…wants my spot – HA! I have no idea where it is….there were a couple of cars that were circling around…looking for spots……they passed me several times…I searched on three different floors before I finally found my car….the people in those circling cars were laughing at me…I was laughing at myself.

Laughing….

I left the casino laughing.

My life is not about gambling any more….regardless of where I am.

When I live my life...I win every day.