This past Saturday evening, I had my second experience at a casino for gambling. I've got nothing against gambling or casinos, or the folks who enjoy them, and winning money certainly is a fun thing. I just feel like sharing my feelings and experience.
Overwhelming is the first work that comes to mind. I recently visited St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and it's the largest Catholic church in the world, and I think several of St. Peter's would fit inside the Kansas Star Casino. There's so much color and noise and so many choices, it's hard to know where to start. I feel like everyone else knows what they are doing and they are winning, and I'm clueless and losing. I feel like a nerd with my $35 or so limit, which I can easily stick by. My casino stay is not long, as I lose my money quickly. I leave smelling like an ashtray--that seems to be the one place where smokers can still smoke and enjoy a "kiss my ass!" attitude.
The financially-responsible part of me is truly traumatized by this experience. How many folks are there gambling money they don't have, and losing it, running up charge cards bills or whatever? That's a sad aspect of human nature, a discouraging picture of hope and hopelessness. While I can survive the loss of $35 without much difficulty, still, next morning I found myself thinking of all the more fun and rewarding things I could have done with the money. Also, the computer geek in me has a field day thinking of all the programmable ways for gambling machine developers to "stack the deck" against the players.
I did have fun with my gal pals, and they all got a big laugh at my expense when I squealed when I won $10 (a pittance in casino terms). Yes, I may go to a casino again, but I don't care if a few years pass till my next visit.
Your thrifty friend,
Leta
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