Texas Tangent
Texas has given us many things: George W. Bush, assembly-line death row, a good chunk of Americas Big Oil industry, and ZZ Top. On the plus side, however, Texas has also given us the late Molly Ivins, Ann Richards, Gene Roddenberry and, of course, Texas Hold 'Em Poker. It is this last one which has consumed my weekend.
No, I did not run off, abandoning my family to visit the local casino. I purchased and downloaded this fun, non-gambling version and played it into all hours of the night and early morning. I downloaded it on a lark, watching the rather complex number routines with the same, morbid fascination Deal Or No Deal inspires. Will Connie D. go for it and bet "All In?" What, on a pair of 6s? Is this computer-generated character nuts?
I took a similar gamble in 1993 (I think), traveling to Pasadena, Texas to meet Janette's paternal side of the family for the first time. The gamble was both "Will they like me?" and "Will I survive the trip?"
Janette and I were dating, but serious. This was the get-the-family-blessing trip. I was also looking forward to meeting Janette's dad for the first time. From a distance, I could see he was a stand-up guy: an active duty Marine officer who had worked hard to keep in touch with Janette (calling every single week) and to support her through college every way he could.
So we landed with much excitement and anticipation. We exited the plane. I took a deep, calming breath - and my chest immediately started tightening. Houston basin air + my severe asthma = asthma attack. Luckily, Janette's uncle was a volunteer fire-fighter with some paramedic training. He and I worked through the symptoms at his home, listening to the Emergency Broadcast System bleat a high wind/tropical storm warning on the tv - you know, getting to know each other.
Within a few hours, of course, I was visiting the local emergency room. Janette's family (and her dad was awesome, by the way, in handling all this) looked on with genuine concern. With some intervention and additional medication, I got my symptoms under control and headed back to Janette's uncle's house for a back pounding (e.g. to get the phlegm out).
One of Janette's relatives took her aside, and gave this blessing: "We really like him, Janette. But he's not going to make it!"
Luckily, we did make it out of Texas alive (and enjoyed a nice day in Galveston, at least until the lightning storm and winds hit rather suddenly). True to their military service tradition, Janette's family certainly performed well "under fire," and we ended up having a great time together.
So, this weekend, you can probably understand if I rejoice in the game that Texas has given us, one of its treasures, while keeping my trusty Albuterol inhaler at-the-ready nearby.
-- Dad
