I Remember Yesterday, but I Dream of Tomorrow

My wife, Carol Ann, daughter, Sarah, and I love to go on cruises. We have been on so many and enjoyed them so much that we are planning to go on the next Mexican Riviera poker cruise in November. And I am planning on having the time of my life playing tournaments every day or so with Jack McClelland in the Poker World Cup at Sea as we sail on the beautiful Carnival Cruise Line's ship Elation down to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. I remember Señor Frog's, and am dreaming of revisiting the Señor.

We just returned from a crossing of the Atlantic from New York to London on board the QE 2, where "The Seniors" Championship of the North Atlantic was won by my good friend Lew Spitzer. "The Seniors" Charities wish to thank all of the players on that cruise for donating $1,000 for the Nathan Adleson Hospice. Everyone had a great time on the cruise, and then it was on to Ireland for a week of fishing, talking, and visiting with the wonderful Irish people. Of course, I remember kissing the Blarney stone (just to help me continue to be lucky, you understand).

I remember the first poker cruises that were created by Bob Thompson and Robin Powell. We had some great times on those cruises, and since then, Carol and I try to go on most of the poker cruises.

I have to be very careful about what I dream, because most of the dreams of my lifetime have come true. I dream of having "The Seniors" poker cruise, and that dream is going to come true soon – watch for "The Seniors" poker cruise.

I would be remiss if I failed to remember the Four Queens and Bonnie Damiano, and all the seniors poker players who helped "The Seniors" raise more than $4,000 for "The Seniors" Charities at the recent Four Queens Classic poker tournament.

I have reached an age at which I remember everything that is good and forget all that is not good or unpleasant. I have a good day every day. I play a lot of poker hands that are not the best to play if winning is what it's all about. I remember how to play well – but playing well is not always fun, and I may not have enough time to wait around for a good hand (I don't buy green bananas). So, I dream that I can take 7-2 offsuit and catch two pair, and beat the young kids who are playing well with their pocket aces or kings, or A-K, because they are making car payments and need to win, and winning is what it's all about with them. But I have an ace they cannot catch (my Carol), who asks me every day, "Honey, what color chips are you going to play with today?" I usually reply, "Well, I will just play with the white $1 chips again today, because we already have a car." She then says, "Honey, you should try to play well today – remember, if you win, you will have more to give away."

The young whippersnappers who laugh at the old man and think he has forgotten all there is to know about poker have to be very careful with him, because they should not awaken a sleeping dog, as the dog may bite them. The old man has forgotten more than they will ever know about poker, and if they wake him up, he will remember how to play and they could miss a car payment or two.

And that's how it is. Until next time, stay lucky.

Editor's note: "Oklahoma Johnny" Hale is the author of Gentleman Gambler, available through Card Player, and the creator of the Seniors Charities and the Seniors World Championship of Poker. His E-mail address is [email protected], and you can visit his website at www.seniorpoker.com.