Folks, remember I talk slow and write long-so when I got started on this article, I really did not mean it to be a novel-but this is part three and the end-I hope.
So like Paul Harvey, I have it started and now I will tell the rest of the story of my being lucky playing poker in the cotton fields of California, during the great depression that John Steinbeck wrote about in his classic, The Grapes of Wrath. And playing poker on the battleships of World War 2, when I won the U.S.Navy! Playing Poker with the rich kids in college at the University of Oklahoma. And playing poker with the rich and famous in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and playing in the smokiest of back rooms of the pool halls where high stakes poker was played. And how I became street smart-at an early age-and college smart a little later.
Now the rest of the story... I had just made my first million and was paying off the banks and the bootlegger. I got one half of my capital from the banks and the other one half from Oklahoma's kingpin bootlegger.
Then I went to see Big Mac, who was now free at home in Oklahoma with his adopted son and, yes, Big Mac had received his pardon for tipping the sheriff! (Big Mac had been in prison for toking a sheriff when his liquor trucks were stopped on a run from Kansas down into Oklahoma). Big Mac was now a free man-The Governor of Oklahoma had issued him a pardon on the Governor's last day in office. I said, "Mac, I got it done-and I made a little money and I want to share it with you. I want to pay you what you lent me and give you some of the profit I have made."
Mac said, "No Johnny, you helped me with my boy-and I owe you a lot. Do you remember what you took down?" I told him, "Yes, Mac, but you should let me share with you-I could not have pulled it off without your help." He said, "No Johnny-just give me what I lent you- that's all I want right now. But I am going to retire from the liquor business, and I want you to invest my money in some legit business."
I said, "Sure Mac, I will look around for something-I am thinking of the wholesale plumbing business-I think that is going to be good. I will let you know soon. Thanks again Mac."
The next week, Big Mac was gunned down by the other bootleggers. They did not know that Big Mac was retiring, and that I was taking his money legit. But that's a story for another column...
With the bank, everything was strictly business-with mortgages and all kinds of paper work. The college smart kid got that done!
Then there was the bootlegger who would take no interest-This was the street smart kid that got that done. I walked on both sides of the street-the silk stocking neighborhoods of South Tulsa, where the highest stakes games of poker were played-and the pool room side of the street, where all the bookies played gin rummy for a hundred thousand dollars-in a 100 point gin game. And poker was good, life was good, and I was lucky!
Street smart-to win from the bookies, bootleggers, pimps and impolite company. And college smart-to win from the doctors, lawyers and the bankers! And never greedy-just a little here a little there-just for expenses! Yes, It is amazing how lucky you can get when you really try.
Until next time, remember to Stay Lucky!
