The 47th Super Bowl

 

I did tell you that I went to a Super Bowl party in Las Vegas again this year, didn’t I? I didn’t? Ah … excuse me.

As I did last year, I hoofed it on down to the Tuscany Suites & Casino on Flamingo Boulevard, about a half-mile or so east of the Las Vegas Strip. Over the years, I’ve found they offer the best venue for viewing the game – four large screens, good food and beverages at reasonable prices, and lots of enthusiastic fans (49ers on one side, Ravens on the other).

Plus, they give out door prizes.

We all know how the game turned out – it ended up just fine for me, very exciting at the end, but my team held on to beat the 4.5-point spread.

I sat next to an elderly couple from Maine who come to Las Vegas from October through March each year to avoid the New England winter. Somewhat like the snowbirds who do the same thing in Hawaii, spending the winter in a more temperate clime.

The lady was in a power scooter chair festooned with all kinds of red, white and blue foil streamers, bead strings, you name it (per her description, every holiday under the sun). Very friendly and chatty woman, and a very knowledgeable, polite husband. I found myself opening up to them and had to put the clamps on things before I gave away all my closeted secrets. Great people to enjoy the game with.

I mentioned drawings. For the drawings, my ticket number was 23292. Number 23290 won a $25 American Express cash card. Later, #23296 won a $50 American Express cash card. Finally, the last number called, #23294, won a 39-inch flat-screen TV. Just missed, oh so close three times, but no cigar.

On the other hand, had I won the flat-screen TV, I would have had to lug it back to the hotel, go to the UPS office there, and have them pack it and send it back home. Or, I would have unloaded it for a hundred bucks to any local who wanted it.

Good thing I didn’t win. At least, that’s how I consoled myself.