Bragging rights

I wasn't wearing a wonderful big hat nor was I sipping a mint julep when the bugler summoned the horses to the starting gate. At that moment, I was sitting attentively in my living room in front of the TV. For the first time in my life I'd placed some bets for the Kentucky Derby. Some people I know drove to a race track in Kentucky where they placed my bets. To make a long story short, my horse won!


Did I make big money? Nope. But my winnings more than made up for the long shot bets on a horse on that didn't win, show or place. In any case, it was fun. I came out ahead. And best of all, I have bragging rights.

Gambling was frowned upon in my childhood. I was never allowed to sell school raffle tickets for example. My mother told me that we don't believe in getting something for nothing. The odds are more in favor of getting nothing for something. I look at buying a raffle ticket as a donation to whatever cause is sponsoring it. Should I win something, fine but I certainly don't consider raffle tickets gambling.

I've bought one, maybe two lottery tickets in my entire life. I'm not even sure that's gambling. It's a stupid tax to supplement the coffers of our fair state. Last week, I did check out the faux river boat casino adjoining the resort hotel where youngest daughter and I hung out. The place was a total sensory overload...too many lights flashing, the machine noise and thumping music. We didn't stay long. The whole resort set-up is designed to encourage and enable people to gamble. I watched busloads of people come and go. The casino was hopping on a Sunday night. This is in a rural area. I wondered where all the gamblers came from. What an odd way to live!

Perhaps my gambling resistance was weakened after the casino visit, because I normally would not waste money betting on a horse race. But it was fun and my horse won!