The curio shop on the Strip in Las Vegas looked intriguing. A stuffed black cat stared back at me from the plate glass window. Overhead was a stuffed owl with baleful eyes. There was even a German U-boat commander's cap and a record album by Willie Nelson and his outlaw pal Waylon Jennings.
I was taking a break between poker tournaments at The Orleans Casino Resort and decided to visit the place.
A young woman in a Hippie outfit stood behind the counter. She wore love beads, a granny dress, no bra, and was barefoot. She looked just like Brigitte Bardot.
“Hi!” she said in a musical voice. “Welcome to the Den of Good Luck.”
Now that interested me. Smiling, I said: “I'm looking for a good luck piece. Can you provide me with one?”
“Life is full of luck if you know where to look.” she said. “Let me ask you a question: what is more important to you -- diamonds, gold or snow?”
I never hesitated. “Snow, of course… what else?”
She smiled. “I love your answer. I have just the good luck piece for you.”
She wandered to the back of the store and came back with a small box. Inside was a miniature cat crouching. The figurine was a mixture of gold, sparkling glass, and white -- diamonds, gold, and snow.
“This is normally $20.” she said. “But I'll let you have it for $9.”
I pulled out the money and told her she had a good heart.
As I left the shop, she shouted after me: “If you win, come back and share. Then I can pass on your blessings to other people.” I promised to remember her request.
That night I drank Frey's organic chardonnay and played in a $75 buy-in tournament at The Orleans. I kept the cat made of diamonds, gold and snow on my cards. It was magical. I won hand after hand until my chips formed a pyramid in front of me.
At 11 p.m., I was ushered to the final table. The poker room supervisor moved my chips for me. I carried my lucky cat.
I won the tournament and collected $1,300. As the poker room manager paid me off, I heard a soft voice behind me.
“Congratulations. Diamonds, gold and snow worked.”
I turned. It was my angelic benefactor with the Brigitte Bardot smile.
She gave me a hug and I detected the aroma of an ancient lovely perfume. I asked her if she drank organic chardonnay and she said: “Of course.”
Before pocketing my winnings, I peeled off a $100 bill and handed it to her.
“A blessing for the poor.” I said. “Spread it around.”
