wordsmithlind

This writing actually dates back to 12-27-01 after my first, and so far only, visit to Las Vegas.  The parts in italics are comments that I added to it 6-15-06.

12-27-01

            Today I met a very interesting man.  He was older 60’s, shaved head, bald.  Gold chains/rings/necklace/earring.  He came to the table I was sitting at, and said he was sitting down.  I remember he did not ask, but stated that he was going to sit down.  I didn’t mind.  If he wants to sit, let him sit.  He was eating a Whopper from BK.  For an older man, he was a very sloppy eater.  There was mayonaisse dripping down his hands.  He started up casual conversation about flights and where from’s.  After a moment of silence, he looks to the table next to us and says, “I’ve never seen so many fat people as I see out here [Las Vegas].”  He then goes into how people in Europe are not fat, they’re thin, Americans are spoiled, etc.  Here he is saying this while eating his Whopper.  I gesture towards my BK and his Whopper and say that they are too lazy to make food.  We then talk about Las Vegas and my experience with it, being my first time out here and all.  After another moment of silence, he says, “Know what makes me nervous is all these Muslim people I see around here [the airport].”  I say they are all Americans.  He then comments on their turbans and how you can hardly understand them with their “ethnic accents, even if they are Americans.”  After some more chatting about my experiences in Vegas, he says he is going to do some gambling to pass the time.  He already put a $100 bill in the machine and doubled his money.  Then he tells me how he needed that food in his stomach so that he can drink on the plane.  He also mentions that he is flying 1^st class, and for free.  As he is leaving he says, “If you get an education, don’t lose it.”  Then he walked away.

I remember writing something up about this man and how I thought he was the Devil.  Not the devil, but the actual Devil, Satan, Bezelbub, or whatever you like.  I cannot find that writing, so I know not if it even exists at this point.  I cannot remember the specifics of it, but I remember thinking that he was giving me a proposition, I could sell out (my soul) and be like him; materialistic, greedy, snide, cynical, and above all, selfish and wealthy.  Or, I could continue on my path.  I could try to become a better and better person, ignoring the materialistic ways of society, etc., etc.  After having just typed this, I am more perplexed by him now than ever before.  I no longer think he was the devil.  He was a very unhappy person though.  He had money and wealth, but no happiness.  His last line confuses me.  It seems so strange that he would say such ignorant things and then end with what he said.

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