Day 1197 Casino Life

 

You never know what you'll find at a conference and trade show! I certainly didn’t expect to see anyone on stilts—but oh, what fun it was. I spent the day in workshops, expanding my brain and trying to absorb whatever tidbits of information I could. The keynote speaker was fantastic, inspiring, and someone I immediately connected with. She and I spoke before and after her speech, and again later at the cocktail party—fast friends for sure.

I also made friends with another woman who I thought worked for one of the big companies. We exchanged phone numbers and chatted all about our lives. Tim, not wanting to miss any fun, joined me at the casino after work, and we were invited to join my new friend for dinner with a large crew. I mentioned that we’d need to make sure it was okay with one of the workers I know, but she assured me it would be fine. At dinner, I found out she’s actually the owner of the company—which made us both laugh when she finally told me.

Dinner at Tao was amazing: we sampled a variety of appetizers, entrées, and a delicious dessert. After dinner, we joined the rest of the conference crowd at the Irish pub, where we partied like rockstars—open bar for all. I was thrilled to have Tim with me, and after a few (too many) cocktails, I relied on his arm to guide me back to our room. No gambling for us, but casino life is super fun even without it.

One more day of education sessions lies ahead, and who knows what else I might encounter. With how things have gone so far, I’m sure there are still a few surprises waiting. Whatever comes next, I’m soaking it all in and loving every moment of this adventure.

“Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.” — Rod McKuen