Some more random thoughts. Actually with my Kidney Stones and pending surgery, we are sitting more and talking, occasionally bringing back a memory or two.
I was reflecting on Reno a while ago, and some of those who passed through town, and my life.
Ray Slattery came to mind. We worked together at the Nevada Club, worked similar house, so did breaks together, etc., and clocked out at the same time, which often led us to be seated together at the bar on our way out. Slats was a good dealer, a great personality, and good to party with.
I remember one night a bunch of us were off work, sitting around in a bar, and someone suggested it would be fun to go bowling, so we packed up and headed for a bowling alley. I was not a bowler, as were most of the others. We were all pretty bad at it for a gem or two, and then. slats got lucky, suddenly became a bowler, had one in the 290's I think it was. Just lucky, and then, laughingly, mention he was a PBA member, followed the tour a few years. Bowled in a Reno tournament, liked the town, and stayed.
Slats decided to leave Reno. I was working up at the lake, he got a ride up, a few of us had a nice breakfast, piled in the car, drove to a spot, over the mountains with a lot of road ahead. Slats thanked us, got out of the car, got his luggage, and started thumbing. Never saw or heard of him again, but, that is how many relationships worked in Reno, a very transient town.
Many people entered my life, briefly out there, working in the clubs seemed to be a stepping stone for many of them. One couple, the names escape me, both worked, saved their money, and he entered the University of Nevada, their goal, he was going to become a Veterinarian and they would spend their lives together.
Many, Reno was just a brief "stop" in their lives. A lot of women came to Reno to get divorce. They would go to work in the clubs. Many got their divorces and moved on, some stayed.
Bob Bartoli, Jimmy Jones, Doc Ledford, Danny Fagan, Joe Frances, Jerry Havens, Jerry Christianson, met and got to know many good people out there. If they spent much time working in the clubs they became a "breed apart." It was a great "community" I lived and worked in, then.
A few, I knew, I never asked, they never told, just became friends, Reno was like that ..... THEN.
