The Ultimate Gambler

I was supposed to leave Sunday February 24th for Las Vegas. Well unfortunately that did not happen as my grandfather Pablo passed away the night before. I guess he got the last laugh on all of us as he was not able to go due to health reasons and figured since he can't go, none of us should go. His passing while a shock was not completely surprising. He was almost 91 and had been in declining health for some time. I know he was ready to go and I was glad that it was quick and hopefully painless. I'm sure it was scary for him in those last few minutes but I know he is in a better place with my grandmother looking down on all of us.

The reason I bring this up is because I just wanted to share a little about mi abuelo as I was very close to him. He was born in Nicaragua in 1917 to a relatively wealthy coffee bean plantation owner. When he was a teenager he was sent to New Orleans by my great-grandparents to get a better education. He graduated high school there and entered Tulane University studying to be an electrical engineer. Unfortunately a few years into his schooling, his father got very ill and he had to return to run the family business. While back in the homeland he met and quickly married my grandmother Victoria, a slightly older feisty strong willed woman (good job gramps!!!). Over the next 15-20 years my grandparents had 12 children with 8 surviving birth. Over this time due to some bad investments and an economic downturn in the Nicaraguan economy my grandparents were faced with a tough decision. They had to sell the plantation and were faced with either staying there or move the family to the states. With my grandma's urging, my grandfather decided to take the biggest gamble and move his family to San Francisco. Over the next few years with the help of friends and family he moved his family one by one over to America. This was an extremely courageous move and one that paid off. Over the next 50 years he saw his family grown and prosper in America and him and my grandma became proud grandparents to 22 grandchildren and so far 12 great-grand children.

He was the consummate gambler, playing the lottery daily and going to casinos to play Keno and the slots. Nothing better than sitting in the Keno lounge having a drink with him and listening to his stories. He was not the best poker player...always trying to bluff or draw to his gutshot straights but in the poker game of life when he needed to he got all his chips in at the right time.

While home for the week, I took 2 trips with my cousin to Bay 101 and played 2 sessions of 6-12 limit hold'em. I played for a total of 7 hours and walked up a total of $1248...my biggest 2 scores ever in a ring game. I know the spirit of Pablo was with me in both sessions.

I would like to share one last thing he told me about 7 years ago. There are 3 things in life that are everyone should live by.

1. Family is the most important thing in the world. Don't turn your back on them and always forgive them because in the end family is all you have and they will be there when you need them.

2. Don't live to work, work to live

3. You should always have a shot or 2 of medicine a day and I think we all know what he means by medicine.

Thanks Pablo for being the best grandfather, you will always be missed but never forgotten. Vaya con dios abuelito!!