CHOOSE 2 THINK
  • Home
  • Mentoring
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • FREEBIE
  • Blog
  • Exclusives
  • Merch
    • Amazon Merch
  • Podcast Guest Form
  • Guest Writers
  • Connect
  • Media Kit
  • Declutter Challenge
  • Fired Up Mind Challenge
  • Home
  • Mentoring
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • FREEBIE
  • Blog
  • Exclusives
  • Merch
    • Amazon Merch
  • Podcast Guest Form
  • Guest Writers
  • Connect
  • Media Kit
  • Declutter Challenge
  • Fired Up Mind Challenge
Search
Intellifluence Trusted Blogger
Picture

Her Name Is Trudy

5/25/2013

 
Picture
        
   



    

    Mamas have a mind of their own, and this 75-year-old mama flew hundreds of miles with the express intent to gamble.  She made me call her Trudy and swore that eight days in the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas was the remedy for her achin' bones.   

    "I'm not coming out til Saturday," she gleefully squeeled.  "And don't worry about lookin' for me.  You'll hear me.  I play hard and I play loud.  Everyone will know that Trudy is a-winnin' and she's a-winnin' big."

    

    I met Trudy at the Las Vegas airport.

    "Have you seen my bag?" she asked.  "It looks just like this one I'm carrying.  Beautiful, colorful flowers.  It arrived four days ago.  I sent it ahead of me."  I encouraged her to speak with the airline baggage claim agent who took down her information and began investigating further.  When we found her bag on the conveyor belt, this was the first sign to me that something might be amiss in her story.  

    It was then that she glanced at me more intently and inquired, "Don't you remember me?  I just know we have met before.... I am hard to forget you know,"  she said with a chuckle.

    With our bags in tow, we discovered that we were both going to the Bellagio, so we hopped a cab together.  

    "Did you say you were from Croatia?"  Trudy asked the taxi driver.  "Well, you must remember me from last year!  I rode in your cab!  Las Vegas sure does have a small town feel."

    "Look at this package deal they gave me," she said as she thrust a huge envelope into my hand.  "I was here last year, you know.  Brought a friend, all expenses paid.  Will never do that again. She was dead weight to me.  Now they are giving me three free nights.  Like I said, I'm playin' big this week, goin' for broke!"

    "Yes, I have children.  You call them a blessing.  Well, let's double your blessing--I'll give you all four of mine!   Yes, I have grandchildren.  Could go my life without seeing them again.  Who? My husband?  He died ten years ago... or was it five?  I do miss him from time to time, but he never liked to gamble; and for me, hittin' the tables kills the pain."

    Trudy claimed to be "something close to a Christian, just one who tends to let it ride."   

    "Hello!  Do you remember me?"  Trudy enthusiastically asked a Bellagio front desk clerk.  "I was just here last year!" 

    "Why, no, ma'am.  I have only worked here for three months."

    "Hello!  I remember you!  Don't you remember me?"  Trudy giddishly asked a gentleman at the roulette table as we made our way through the smoky casino.  "Surely, surely you remember me!  I'm Trudy!  

    "Come back to see me later," the stranger said with a half smile and a wink to me.

    "I always win big at the slots," Trudy retorted over her shoulder.

    When we arrived at the elevators, she nervously grabbed my arm.  "Say.  Do you remember what floor I am on?"

    "Was it the eleventh floor, Miss Trudy?  Or maybe the tenth? I'm sorry.  Can you find your door key?  It should be labeled there."

    She slowly fumbled for her wallet.  "Why, it's not here.  I know I put it here.  I just know I put it here."

    "Perhaps you stuck it in your other bag."

    "Oh, yes.  Is this it?  What does it say?"

    "Number 1025.  You are on the 10th floor, Room 25," I said loudly and clearly.  Do you want me to come with you?  Are you sure you're going to be okay, Miss Trudy?"

    "Of course.  This is home to me.  I want to buy you dinner.  Won't you meet me tonight for dinner?"

    I never saw Miss Trudy again, though the Lord knows I repeatedly looked for her amidst hundreds and hundreds of gamblers at all hours of the day and night while I was there.  For some reason, her room number slipped from my mind.  I regretted not taking her phone number.  I even wished I had contacted her children.  I worried that she suffered from dementia and would be taken advantage of in that casino.  How on earth did she get here from Atlanta?  Was she really from Atlanta?  

    She seemed tough as nails yet tender as a blade of grass.  An elderly woman with a heart that longed to be remembered.  Crotchety but thoughtful. Forgetful yet alert.  

    Did I miss a moment in time, Lord?  What should I have done?  Was I more concerned about my own agenda than a listless woman in need? Did I miss an opportunity to speak Truth into her life?   Was I the one who let it ride?  

    She  wants to be remembered, Lord.  

    Her name is Trudy.
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.
Psalm 10:12

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Hot Topics

    All
    Addiction
    Books
    Brain
    C2T Digital Courses
    C2T Merch
    Choose 2 Think Podcast
    Comfort
    Conflict
    Creativity
    Current Events
    Day To Day
    Detox
    Devotional
    Emotions
    Fear
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Guest Blogger
    Health
    Heart And Mind
    Home Ec
    Hope
    JOY
    Ky Small Biz
    Love
    Marriage
    Menopause
    Mindsets
    NANApreneurship
    Non Profit Organizations
    Patience
    Praise
    Psalms
    Restoration
    Shame
    Small Biz
    Spain
    Surveys
    Thought Strategy Session
    Trust

    RSS Feed

    All content © Victoria D. Walker, 2013-2022.
All rights reserved. Copyright ©VictoriaD.WalkerLydon, 2013-present.  Material from  choose2think.co  may not be copied,  reproduced, or distributed in any way without consent.  Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Use by permission.  (www.Lockman.org).   Bragging rights for stock photos go to UnSplash, Pexels, Pixabay, and Canva.    The information contained on this website  is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.  Your information is safe with us. If you opt in to our newsletter or provide personal information such as name and email, this information is never sold.  *As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. 
Photos used under Creative Commons from INTVGene, photoloni, classroomcamera, Rosenfeld Media, david.nikonvscanon, Free For Commercial Use (FFC), Ionics, Georgie Pauwels, Free For Commercial Use (FFC), Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon, Antonio Marano, libertyslens, jafsegal (Thanks for the 4 million views), glen.dahlman, Mister-E, h.koppdelaney, sarah|rose, Agnes_F, pennuja, Daquella manera, TomCollins, erink_photography, torbakhopper, AntonStetner, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, UofT, Javcon117*, Carl Campbell, bud ellison - from the street, VIVOBAREFOOT, Free For Commercial Use (FFC), Elin B, DeeAshley, auntjojo, dejankrsmanovic, One Click Group UK, barnimages.com, Steve @ the alligator farm, x1klima, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Ktoine, trendingtopics, wuestenigel, AntonStetner, marcoverch, marciadotcom, wuestenigel, berniedup, Mannia&Titta, Semtrio, wuestenigel, Joe The Goat Farmer, anaulin, dejankrsmanovic, Ramona.Forcella, RichardBH, Brett Jordan, Phototravelography, MixedGrill, Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, spaceodissey, Horia Varlan, SupportPDX, Kevin Doncaster, Kiwi Mikex, bluebirdsandteapots, ccPixs.com, marcoverch, jennnster, Tobyotter, Fan.D & Dav.C Photgraphy, francesxcabrini, cuatrok77, Liam Quinn, mattieb, Sam Howzit, Bombardier, geyergus, josemanuelerre, mike.harris666, j neuberger, velkr0, Jonathan Kos-Read, AK Rockefeller, alsteele, chrisbulle, pasotraspaso, Vox Efx, lrargerich, KnockOut_Photographs, Steve Snodgrass, ictsan, padshewscky, rob.wall, RLEVANS, lcm1863, CarbonNYC, Pink Sherbet Photography, faungg, jean-louis zimmermann, The Moving Architects, ell brown, S. Parker, mikebaird, Clevergrrl, iamthatphotoguy, arka D, martinteschner, Tim Green aka atoach, Daniel E Bruce, FutureLight Studios, Sweet Carolina Photography, Lauren Manning, 【J】, dullhunk, amslerPIX, TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³, Aya Demeter Photography & Design, worobod, hectorlandaeta, Pavel ahmed, skedonk, philnelson, El Bibliomata, h.koppdelaney, Albion Europe ApS, ~Merete, Randy Son Of Robert, khawkins04, .Bala, Perspective on Art, EricaJoy, Afroswede, ZerO 81, Jaypeg21, PhoTones_TAKUMA, W J (Bill) Harrison, Skinned Mink, Craig Spence, myhsu, margaretsdad, Rosenwald, ilkerender, jessleecuizon, Carlos Gracia, Patrick Feller, zigazou76, daniel spils, Grafik Mekanik, MeganMc89, jenny downing, FutureLight Studios, Kelly Colgan Azar, Patrick Hoesly, Claudio , fireflythegreat, rmhowie, mollystevens, LornaWatt, phrawr, MAMJODH, OliBac, TenaciousR, MCetty, visualpanic, ChadCooperPhotos, theseanster93, themostinept, Keith Allison, Rodrigo_Soldon, photogramma1, Nesster, VinothChandar, Katie@!, billoberstjr, ~yienshawn92~, rambla, AbbyD11, martinak15, Ed Yourdon, MSVG, wplynn, Manoj Kengudelu, ken2754@Yokohama, Arry_B, quinn.anya, Mister-E, byJoeLodge, gags9999, nick.amoscato, AForestFrolic, steakpinball, patti haskins
  • Home
  • Mentoring
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • FREEBIE
  • Blog
  • Exclusives
  • Merch
    • Amazon Merch
  • Podcast Guest Form
  • Guest Writers
  • Connect
  • Media Kit
  • Declutter Challenge
  • Fired Up Mind Challenge