Visit with My 89 year-old Father

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Laguna Woods, California
January 28, 2018 8:38pm CST
Over the past few days, my family and I have been in Las Vegas for a reunion with a number of family members, particularly my 89 year-old father. He is doing great! He played 21 (Blackjack) for several hours and won several hundred dollars. He also played the slot machines and broke even doing that ... which is actually pretty good. After three days in Vegas, he left with $300 more than he had when he arrived. One of my daughters and two of my grandchildren joined us, so we had four generations of my family together. It was wonderful. In addition, my sister and her husband, my nephew and his fiance, and a half dozen other relatives were also there. It was a fun, family celebration!
31 people like this
32 responses
@JudyEv (323673)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jan 18
Wow, your Dad is doing so well - and to win $300. I bet he was thrilled. It would have been a very special occasion.
5 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@JudyEv - I loved seeing him. He lives in St. Louis, with my sister, and that is about 1500 miles from us, so I don't see him often. I was so happy he was able to do this and win some money at his age!
3 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@JudyEv - Yes, it is hard to see him often. We went back to St. Louis twice last year and saw him in Las Vegas this month, but it is hard to go very often. We plan to go see him this summer, but at his age you never know if he will live that long. The time we spend with him is precious.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323673)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane Oh that is a very long way away.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
29 Jan 18
It sounds like you guys had a really good time.
4 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@GardenGerty - Thank you! We had a wonderful visit.
@jstory07 (133754)
• Roseburg, Oregon
29 Jan 18
Your Dad looks really good for being 89. You are lucky to still have him in your life.
3 people like this
@tiada123 (303)
• Malaysia
2 Feb 18
@DeborahDiane he is really looks great hand healthy !
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Feb 18
@tiada123 - Thank you! He seems to be doing very well right now.
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
29 Jan 18
All three of you look so happy. My hubby's uncle lives in Vegas. We may finally be going there this Fall to visit. I've heard that there is a fantastic botanical garden there.
3 people like this
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane That's a sweet and wonderful photo. The hotels must be spectacular. My hubby's uncle acted like there was nothing to do but gamble!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@sallypup - There are some wonderful places to visit in Las Vegas. I have not been to the botanical garden, but we love to sit in the garden behind the Flamingo Hotel. When you are there, you do not feel at all as if you are in Las Vegas. Here's a photo.
3 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@sallypup - The Las Vegas hotels are spectacular, but there are many things to do. There are golf courses scattered around Las Vegas, lovely gardens, museums, an aquarium, shows, shopping malls (including outlets), and many other interesting activities. I don't like to gamble, and I enjoy going to Las Vegas. Just going in and out of some of the hotels ... like Paris, the Venetian and the Ballagio ... is interesting!
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15836)
• Manchester, England
29 Jan 18
I'm not surprised he cleaned up at the Blackjack table. He has the look of a card shark Maybe i need to get him to teach me a thing or two about Blackjack!!! Looks like a great time was had by all. Let me know next time you're all going to Vegas and I'll come along and learn from the master!!
3 people like this
@WorDazza (15836)
• Manchester, England
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane Maybe it's easier for everyone if he just gives me his Blackjack winnings then
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@WorDazza - My Dad would be proud to teach you! He tried to teach our daughter how to play poker on one of the machines, but she started losing, so he just gave her some money from his winnings. He is so sweet!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@WorDazza - Ha ha! He is proud of his winnings! I think there are limits to his generosity! LOL
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 18
How sweet. I love the picture!
3 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
Thank you! I loved getting to see my father.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane It is always a good feeling to spend time with family!
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
30 Jan 18
Have not played Black Jack in a long long time. In all very pleased that you all had such a nice time over there.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
31 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane Good to hear it and have a great day ahead also.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
Thank you! We had a nice time.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Feb 18
1 person likes this
@much2say (53697)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Jan 18
How neat to have a destination family reunion like that! Sounds like everyone had a great time! And your dad was quite lucky - family, winnings and all!
3 people like this
@much2say (53697)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jan 18
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@much2say - Thank you! We are lucky to still have my father with us!
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41134)
• Delhi, India
29 Jan 18
It's always a pleasure to have a get together with family members. Your father is doing well.
2 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
Thank you! I really value the time I get to spend with family, especially my father.
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
29 Jan 18
Your Dad looks great in this photo. I am so glad that you spent a vacation in Las Vegas. family reunions are happy moments.
3 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@LadyDuck - Yes, family reunions are very happy, and the time I have with my father is precious to me!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
6 Feb 18
What a lovely photo! I'm happy you had such a wonderful family reunion.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Feb 18
I was thinking the other day that our direct family now has generations in their 80s (my dad), 70s (my husband), 60s (me), early 50s (my step-daughters), 40s (my oldest daughter), 30s (my youngest daughter), 20s, teens, pre-teens and in the womb (my grandkids). Our family just keeps growing, and I imagine we will have great-grandchildren in the next 5 to 7 years. Amazing!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Feb 18
@DianneN - I was shocked to realize how many different decades our family represents. With two granddaughters in their 20s and one in her late teens, I will probably be a great-grandmother in 10 years or less. Scary thought! LOL
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
6 Feb 18
@DeborahDiane That is amazing! I'm still waiting for our newlyweds to make me a grandma again.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21598)
• Canada
30 Jan 18
This weekend many of our family members, at least 60 of us met together in an attractive hall with beautiful flowers and good food to give our 91 year old father a send off.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@Morleyhunt - How wonderful that so many of your family members were able to be there! I was thrilled that about dozen of our relatives were in Las Vegas. It is fun to see family, isn't it?
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@Morleyhunt - ha ha! Well ... most of the time it is fun, although there can be some drama, too!
@Morleyhunt (21598)
• Canada
30 Jan 18
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (73903)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 Jan 18
This is great to here, glad your father came out ahead with those games! Stay safe:)
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@kobesbuddy - Thank you! It was very heart-warming to be with them.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@kobesbuddy - Thanks! We had a great time.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (73903)
• East Tawas, Michigan
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane I'm glad you have fun with your family:)
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129095)
• Israel
12 Mar 18
Sounds like a great place to have a reunion. I liked to visit Las Vegas when I lived in the States. It is a fun place to go Deborah-Diane.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Mar 18
@Hannihar - Yes, Las Vegas is very entertaining. My Dad really enjoyed the visit and had a great time. He even won money! He was very proud of himself. LOL
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Mar 18
@Hannihar - I love to people watch in Las Vegas, too! There are some real characters walking around. LOL
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129095)
• Israel
13 Mar 18
@DeborahDiane Deborah-Diane, glad he enjoyed it. I would love to sit and watch people they are so entertaining there. I am glad he won some money.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
30 Jan 18
Your smiles say it all. He still maintains that cool, poker face though, like he pretends not to show too much excitement from his winnings.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
31 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane It's a combination of luck and focus.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Feb 18
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@Theresaaiza - Yes, he does have a bit of a poker face. While he was playing Blackjack, he looked so serious. I think he was concentrating pretty hard! LOL
@jaboUK (64363)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 18
Sounds like a really fun time. Your father's mind must still be sharp if he can play blackjack as well as that.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64363)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane That's wonderful.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@jaboUK - The fact that he thinks so clearly makes it much easier to spend time with him. In my mother's case, it was uncomfortable, because you just didn't know what to say. She didn't even recognize me or remember any of the things we had done together.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Jan 18
What a great time for all of you! Your dad must be a whiz at blackjack to beat those multi-deck games.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane Blackjack is impossible for sure.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@JamesHxstatic - I agree!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@JamesHxstatic - I was very impressed that he did so well ... and he won two nights in a row. I gave up playing that game decades ago, since I regularly lose, so I was especially impressed!
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76376)
• Germany
29 Jan 18
Wow! Your father is doing well. Family bonding is great. I love family reunion.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
@thelme55 - I love family reunions, too. I am lucky my father is still with us.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Feb 18
@thelme55 - I'm sorry for the loss of your father. I am trying to see mine as often as I can, but it is hard because he lives 1500 miles away from me, with my sister.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55684)
• Portugal
6 Feb 18
I love when my family gets together. Your dad looks great!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Feb 18
Thank you! My dad seems to be doing really well for his age. He had fun in Las Vegas!
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55684)
• Portugal
6 Feb 18
@DeborahDiane that is wonderful
1 person likes this
@tiada123 (303)
• Malaysia
29 Jan 18
Enjoyed. Glad to have reunion
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
Thank you! I loved our family reunion!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Feb 18
@tiada123 - How wonderful? Enjoy your family reunion!!
1 person likes this
@tiada123 (303)
• Malaysia
1 Feb 18
@DeborahDiane we going to have family reunion soon during Chinese New Year
1 person likes this