Good Trip

We woke up this morning knowing our visit with our dear friends was drawing to a close. It was a very good visit even though we didn't do much of anything. Sometimes I get more out of doing less as a opposed to more. We spent time with our friends, the children and each other. Life for me is all about relationships and I have some very special relationships with some very special people. The people we visited in Las Vegas have been long time friends of mine and now my wife. Even though circumstances being what they are these spectacular people are there for my family. There are some very good people in this world and I am surrounded by many of these good people.

We took our time this morning preparing to leave and had a leisurely breakfast. Unfortunately my friend had come down with some type of cough over night and he wasn't feeling very well. However, this didn't stop him from giving my wife and me some very encouraging words. These words meant the world to me and his friendship means the world to me and my wife.

I need to take a step back to 1992 when I was in Las Vegas on a business trip. My friends had just bought their house and they were kind enough to allow me to stay there for the week even though they were back East. It was November and I fell in love with the area; no it wasn't the casinos, lights, or action it was the suburban Las Vegas. This was the first time I had experienced the "normal" Las Vegas. The weather was fantastic and I have never seen a sky so blue in all of my life. I thought to myself this is where I wanted to live and raise a family.

I was able to convince my wife over the next year to move out of New Jersey and try Las Vegas. It was a very good run and we had two lovely children born in Las Vegas. A few years later I had an incredible opportunity in Southern California that I couldn't pass up. Yes, I squandered this opportunity due to my compulsive gambling addiction and I do regret those choices I made when I was gambling. I do not regret moving out to Las Vegas and moving to Southern California. I regret not seeking help sooner but I can't change any of that I can only work on today. It is not too late for everyone including me because I now have the tools at my disposal to progress this change one day at a time.

As we said our good-byes and headed back to Southern California I thought to myself how blessed a man I truly am. These blessings come in all shapes and sizes and were right in front of me all of my life. I ignored these blessings for so long but not anymore. Life is so much more fulfilling today than it was over 10 months ago. I no longer take anyone or anything for granted because these things can be taken away in a second and life is too precious to squander. Yes, I was caught up in the "big shot" lifestyle and thinking I could have my cake and eat it to. I was sadly mistaken because without gambling I am living the "big shot" life each and every day with my family.