On reflection - part two

Looking back over those incredible 18 months in 2002 and early 2003 - I must confess to finding some difficulty in explaining how on earth I focused in the manner that I did. The only thing I could really say was that each time I was faced with total oblivion from my self-destruct and circumstances, I seemed to come right back for more. I guess the mere thought of reaching a place I could not bounce back from, scared the crap out of me and forced me to see sense. The problem was, I was cutting it so fine each time. It would only be a matter of time when the walls would close in and corner me into a real difficult place. Well…..that time did come.

It was May 5th 2003 and Leah and I sealed the knot with a Vegas wedding at one of those small chapels. It had only been five months since I walked away from my landlady (Jo), but Leah and I had no doubts. The thing was, I hadn’t told Jo (or even any of my family members), no, all that would have been fully explained when I got back to the UK a couple of weeks later. Anyway, I owed it to Jo to tell he in person rather than through a phone call. But I guess news travels fast and someone beat me to it. It’s rather a long and complex story as far as Jo was concerned, suffice to say that I had hurt the person who had saved me. It was never the plan to hurt her, but sometimes, love just happens.

At that time, I was also suffering some serious health issues and was actually struggling to sit at a poker table for any length of time. Overall, this was as bad as it could get. In fact, I felt that the combination of factors made it impossible for me to even play poker. I therefore felt obligated to inform my backer at the time (we had actually started out together just before the Aussie Millions, so he was nicely ahead) that I would be no use to him in the state I was in. On top of all this, the wedding license and tip just happened to be the last of our money.

Over the next few weeks, I tried calling Jo several times. But it seems that she found it hard to talk to me and I never got my chance to explain. The WSOP was over and I was still in one of the penthouse suites at the Las Vegas Club. No money, no poker and no absolution from Jo. It just doesn’t get any worse than that. Welll.....actually it does.

My old friend Frankie Knight had told me many years ago that when I went to Vegas, I wouldn’t want to come back. However, he never said anything NOT having the money to go back! But that was exactly the situation I was in. Calling Frankie on the 11th of July, I told him of my plight. Bless him, he had 100 quid to spare and that he would bank it for me. The next morning, I again called Frankie to tell him that I had the money - he tells me that the Orleans Open was on that morning and that I should play. I couldn’t help but smile at his suggestion. Not only did I not want to see a poker table,- I had been ill in bed all week. Thanks Frankie, but poker is the last thing on my mind. Jo was of course the first, she was also next on the list of phone calls.

For some reason, Jo accepted my call that morning. But more importantly, she forgave me. It seems she had finally understood and told me everything was good. Absolution was so sweet. Suddenly, with just 15 minutes to the first even at the Orleans, I wanted to play poker.

By the time Leah and I made it to the Orleans, the first event, a $125 buy-in Limit Holdem had started. In fact, I was on the last table as 100 or more other players in line missed out. Looking down at my first hand, I slow play my J-J. With only 700 in chips, I guess I didn’t want to get too busy without anything near the nuts. The young lady opposite me, must have felt the same with her Q-Q and I only lost 180 chips on a baby flop. I don’t know if I needed any more inspiration that day, but they announced that 1166 runners was a world record for a B/M event. To be honest, I knew that exact moment that I would win this event. In fact, I went over to my wife and told that it would be a long night.

To be continued…..