John Gray's Seacanoe October 2015 Newletter

EQUALITY

Eight years after the Bomb, Suzie, our Japanese maid, said “From Here To Eternity” is playing at the Base Theater – I want to see the American version of ‘Pearl Harbor. “

No problem.  Off we went to the movies!
The next morning the Base Commander called my Mom.
“Mrs. Gray, Did you go to the movies last night?”
“Sure did.  Our maid wanted to see the movie.”
“Did you sit in officers seating?”
“Of course.  My husband is an officer.”
“That’s the problem.  Your maid is a Japanese National and she sat in Officers seating.”
“Really?  Is there a law against that?”
“No law - - - it just isn’t done.”
“Is there an Army Regulation against that?”
“No law and no regulation.  In that case, I think tonight we will take Suzy to dinner in the Officers’ Club!”

And we did.  Scandalous.

As we paid the bill, we noticed the casino right across from the cash register – a dark hole with ominous flashing lights.

“Suzie, before we go home let’s go in the casino and play the One-Armed Bandit.”
Scandalous!

It was the only time I ever gambled – an addiction worse than drugs.  

Americans, when you vote remember that Donald Trump made his money on Atlantic City casinos.  How many lives and families did he ruin in the process?  How many Mob connections to bring those casinos “On line”?  Trump doesn’t care as long as he makes more money! The “House” isn’t there to lose money – just to take your money.

My Los Angeles family goes back to at least 1870.  When I was growing up we owned land forever, including a chunk of fashionable Lido Isle in Newport Beach.  One day I visited my Grandmother – very proper British aristocracy - she was endorsing a decimeter high stack of Blue Chip dividend checks – Grandmother said, “John, you are my first born grandson – one day this will be all yours.”

I never saw a penny.  Gambling is the worst addiction of them all.