BINGO!

Yesterday we went with Winnie, (my mother-in-law) to play Bingo at the Nugget Casino in Sparks,Nevada.  No one won, but it was an experience. 

Winnie loves to play Bingo.  She and Rob go to Las Vegas twice a year so she can play in the big tournaments, with the grand prize of $50,000.  She also plays regularly with her friends at the Senior Center in Novato. Of course the hope of winning is why you play, but she enjoys the fun of it anyway. Having had a couple of ‘close ones’ yesterday, I understand the anticipation.  When I was  one number away from Bingo, I chanted under my breath,  “Come on B-5, B-5, B-5,” only to be disappointed when that annoying lady with that ridiculous big hat yelled, “Bingo,” ending my chance to win.

Bingo is sort of a Catholic institution, isn’t it?  I grew up with my mom going to the school auditorium on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month, hoping to hit the jackpot. The church bulletin reminded parishioners when the next Bingo night was. As a teacher in a Catholic school, I felt it was my duty to teach the next generation, this classic game.  I had a little set in my classroom, with a metal cage that turned and held the small wooden balls, each with a Bingo letter and number.  The prizes ranged from a piece of candy, a sticker or the grand prize, a homework pass. It was a good way to pass a rainy day recess, or the last half hour on a Friday afternoon.

Going with Winnie yesterday, reminded me of volunteering at a Bingo game many years ago.  I thought it would be a fun way to do some of the service hours I was required to do as part of my tuition contract. This was ‘back-in-the-day’ when smoking was still allowed in public places.  It was also the one and only time I volunteered at Bingo.  Those people were crazy.  As they lined up to go in, smoking like fiends, each had to get to his or her lucky spot in the room.  Once seated, they pulled out their lucky charms- trolls, sparkling crystals, and other trinkets that were sure to help them win.  Since this was my first (and last) time volunteering, I had to get a quick lesson in what to do with the ‘pull-tabs,’ and other side opportunities to win it big. (Pull-tabs were similar to lottery scratchers- somebody’s gotta win, right?) I had to be fast, and notice every little old lady who was waving her hand at me.  I wore one of those aprons with pockets for money, pull-tabs, and daubers to buy in case someone’s ran out.  (Daubers are little bottles of ink with a round top to mark your winning numbers as they are called.) I was warned about Mrs. Monahan who was a real crab, and Mrs. DeVincenzi who was also a pain. This Bingo stuff was serious business to them.  A chance to win, AND helping the church raise money- it was a higher cause than I ever realized. I remember looking out over the crowded room and seeing the haze of smoke hanging over everyone’s head. But there was not a sound during the calling of numbers.  Anyone who dared speak above a whisper was promptly told to shut up.  Politeness went out the window during Bingo.  I went home that night reeking of cigarette smoke- all the way down to my underwear.

The Bingo game at the Nugget Casino had the classic Bingo board, lighting up with the numbers as each was called.  But, it also had a monitor showing the Bingo balls as they popped into the shoot.  One side of the room was ‘non-smoking’ and the other side ‘smoking.’  I still walked out of there smelling like cigarettes.  There were still a few ladies with their hand-made dauber bags, and a couple of lucky charms poised near their cards.  The average age was about 75. 

Now they also have computerized Bingo cards on tablets. If you choose this method and pay a little bit more, the computer fills in your cards and all you have to do is yell, “Bingo.” 

As I said it was an experience.