It was always a big day in the Dooley household, but generally just our family, Mom, Dad, my brother and myself. Always a big turkey and all that goes with the meal, but not a lot of family. So, a lot of good memories, but nothing stands out from my "home" years, other than Mom's cooking and all her "seasonal" decorations. She loved nothing more than "family."
I don't think we had a "Black Friday" then, I think it was just the Friday after Thanksgiving, and I don't recall if it was a shopping day or not.
One that I really remember was in the late fifties, not sure which year.
I was working at the Primm in Reno, graveyard shift, 3AM till 11AM. There was a good crowd in town and we had a good night on the crap table. I remember Ernie Primm coming in, pulled up in front with his driver in his nice green Caddy, came in the club and had his morning drink, a Manhattan, which Dave always had waiting for him on the end of the bar.
He stopped by our table, said good morning, and asked how we had done. I told him we had a good night and he signaled to Dave, the bartender, to set us up after the shift. So, that's how I ended up at the bar after work. Old friend, Jimmy Jones was at the bar and we started talking, and some other "dealers" and others soon joined in on our conversation.
As I was leaving, I wished all a Happy Thanksgiving, inquired where they were having their "dinner." Well, a lot of them were single and living in rooming houses or apartments, so they were eating in a restaurant somewhere. All dealers, all alone on Thanksgiving, all eating their traditional dinner in some casino dining room or at a counter. I had a few drinks by this time, well, a few more for dinner won't hurt. I invited them all, and their friends, apparently, to come to our place for dinner. At least I had the presence of mind to tell all to bring something, Dinner at 3, gave them the address, and left.
Before the day was over we had a crowd of people stop by, some for dinner, some for leftovers, and a few just to have a place to go. I think our first "seating" was about twelve, all away from home, all casino workers which get a little hardened. I will never forget, we all sat down, a table full of food, (we had three turkeys, two were purchased from restaurants and brought) everyone brought something, Before we started eating, something was brought up about "Grace" and Jimmy Jones volunteered. I did not know it then, but he had started out as a Methodist minister, never knew the story, but, now a crap dealer in Reno.
Here sat a group of dealers. cocktail waitresses, 21 Dealers, a Wheel Dealer, one Floor Boss and one Boxman, one Crossroader, all people basically alone, sitting down to dinner, as a family, and Jimmy saying grace. It was a great moment for me.
I imagine that tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, that a few people will remember that day and think about it. I know I will.
Happy Thanksgiving to Jimmy, Donna, Thelma, Bettye, Danny, Doc, Buster, Wesley, Hoot, Joe, Jack, Mark, Fitz, Meta, Ernie and Don and all the others, mostly all gone now ........ hopefully they are all together, again ...............
