All I really wanted to do was ask someone to take my picture in front of the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino which I figured would be an interesting contrast from the photos of nature and church signs.
As I approached the opulent entrance I saw two young guys walking toward me.
"Hey guys, do one of you mind taking a photo of me in front of the fountain?"
"Sure." I handed my camera to the sandy haired guy. He snapped a couple of pictures from different angles.
"Thanks guys, I wanted my picture taken here because it's been a long hot day and I've ridden my bike here from Canada."
"You rode this all the way from Canada? No way man."
"Yeah I did, and God willing I'll be riding all the way to Florida."
"That is so cool man."
We stood talking as I answered their many questions. Dennis is a business student at a local community college. Josh recently quit his job as an external maintenance keeper of an apartment complex. He's hoping to start his own landscaping business. I handed them the card so they could check out the blog.
"Good meeting you guys, I'm going to head in and see what Donald Trump will charge me for a room."
"You want a room? We're comped at this place. I'll get you a room, would you pay $20 for it?"
"Sure."
"Follow us."
Dennis went to the hotel check-in line up and was there for about 20 minutes while Josh and I stood outside talking. Eventually Josh walked me in to the check-in counter and held my bike while I confirmed to the incredulous lady that I had in fact ridden my bike from Canada. She was well acquainted with Josh and Dennis who were both regulars at the casino.
"God works in mysterious ways," she said to Josh. She pointed heavenward and continued, "See Josh, you do good things and good things happen to others."
"Amen sister!" I replied.
Josh and Dennis have a bank of complimentary rooms and meals that they redeem and sell to people so that they can continue to gamble without spending any of their own money. I handed them each a 20 dollar bill as they helped me get my bike and gear on the elevator and up to the 36th floor.
The view from my 36th floor room.
What a great story, Pat!!!
ReplyDeletePat stay away from those slot machines or you'll be hitch hiking back to Halifax.....never been there but I was once interviewed for a security managers job at a big Casino on the Oregon coast - they flew me out there for a weekend and I couldn't get out of there fast enough......over my time "On the Job" I put alot of good people in prison for embezzlement, one was a state comptroller and one was an old lady aged 73 (Public official) she took about 75K to gamble with.....Casinos LOVE physicians and dentists....they used to fly them free on Junkets to Vegas .....Ka-ching Ka-ching.
ReplyDeleteNo worries there... I'm not into gambling. My forte is the countryside and those signs that I see in front of churches which is quite a contrast from this place. Besides, Donald trump has enough money without me giving him more.
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