Hooked

     I want to tell you about the day I met my true love, Video Poker.
     It was 1987--after Joel and I were married but before we had kids.  Those were the days of big hair and bigger shoulder pads.  It was my first trip to Las Vegas and it was very cheap---they advertised shrimp cocktails for 99 cents and hotels for $29 a night.  Flights were also inexpensive--the main objective was to get people to Las Vegas, and only later to separate them from their money.
     I didn't want to go.  We were newlyweds, and if we were going on vacation, I wanted to spend our money someplace else, but Joel made plans for us to meet up with his best friend.
    Our plane made three stops on the way to Las Vegas, and on one of those stops my luggage got off to stretch its legs.  When we arrived in Las Vegas, all I had was the bright pink, purple, blue, green and yellow one-piece jumpsuit I was wearing.  I was mortified that I'd be wearing the same outfit all weekend, but of course once I arrived in Las Vegas and saw what everyone else was wearing, I realized how silly my concerns were.
     We arrived at our hotel but I had nothing to unpack.  I was crabby.  Joel suggested we go down to the casino where I imagined we would lose what was left of our wedding cash, but what else was there to do?
     Joel showed me around the casino--roulette, the blackjack tables, the slot machines.  He sat down at a 25-cent video poker machine and showed me how to play.  I sat on the stool next to him and did not move for three days.
     I was winning!  And then, of course, I was losing, but I kept the memory of winning, and I couldn't stop.
     Oh, I did go to the bathroom, and yes, I must have eaten something, but I know for sure that I did not change my clothes.  I distinctly remember not wanting to leave "my" machine and risk someone else taking up residence.
     Our flight home was on Monday morning at 8:00, and Joel came to fetch me around 3:00 a.m. for a couple hours sleep before heading out.
      "You go ahead," I told him, pressing my buttons at lightning speed, never taking my eyes off my cards.
     "Sher," he said, "come on up, get some sleep."
     "I'm fine," I said.  "Let me know when it's time to go."
     He was quiet for a second.
     "Sher," he said, putting his hand on my arm. "Stop for a second.  Look at me."
     "I know it's you!" I said.  "I recognize your voice!"