Bingo Night: An experience in Humanity....or perhaps not.

[ScreamingMeemie]

It promises to be a big night here at Lu's Bingo Palace. I park my car at 4:30, two hours early so we can set up. Walking in, I see 20 of the regulars already seated and setting up their offerings to the Bingo God in exchange for the right numbers. There is Edna with her Lucky Duck key chain. Here is Joe with his bottle of dotter in every color of the rainbow. They all wait excitedly for me to go back and grab my box of lottery pulls. They've got money to give me, and they want to do it now!

The room is really filling with people and the cigarettes are beginning to fire up. I set up my selling station and they stampede. "I'll take three sweetie, right off the top". "No NO! Not from there take twenty off then flip it over and give me that one." These lottery pull tabs have a method to them you see.

As I sell, I can hear the grumbling start, "Who the hell are all these new people?" "They've taken Bob's table and he won't be happy about it." and on and on...because, tonight is that night of all nights...Progressive has hit $7,000. and the count is at 59. The stuff of life I tell you!

[CO Liberal]

1. Bingo Players are a Whole Separate Subspecies

I remember that when I used to work Bingo back in the old days when I was a Catholic.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. It is exhausting work, yet it gives me much writing material.

Many of my characters are based upon these bingo believers. :hi:

[skygazer]

2. Interesting lessons in social dynamics

Like going to an Amway meeting or a fundie tent revival. You see some interesting aspects of human nature.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. Like there is an acceptable decibel range for one to shout "bingo" in.

One man was actually, get this..."BANNED FOR LIFE FROM LU'S BINGO PALACE" for shouting too loud. Another woman was denied her win because she said 'bingo' too softly and the next number had already been called. It was basically "sorry sucker". These people are mean, mean, MEAN...until they win. Then I am the most beautiful "girl" they have ever seen. The kisses I get....:hi:

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Mrs. G., you haven't done BINGO until you've experienced GAY BINGO.

About two years ago, my friend took me to this phenomenon in Wilmington, DL. The proceeds went to AIDS care in the local area. The hosts wore beautiful evening dresses, wore exotic wigs, and definitely made the whole evening so much fun. It was BINGO but there was much laughing, joking, theatrics, and socialability among all participants. I cherish my memories.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. This is a little less than that.

;) This is tobacco stained ceilings, poor ventilation...buzzing fans, a crackly microphone, and 200 plus people, willing to hand their money over to what they do not know...all because they think they could win if they touch all of their trinkets in the right order...

Your bingo sounds like a blast. :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

6. You must have known

The Packers were getting their asses kicked, so you did this instead. :evilgrin:

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. SHUT. UP. YOU.

This was last night. Today...I threw up about 20 or so times. :cry:


Way to kick a woman when she is down...and comes to the Lounge to forget about the shittiness that is football today....


Collinsworth can bite me...he's such an ass. Those who suck at football become announcers.

[davsand]

9. I bartended at Bingo night for two years.

Yep, I sure did. I doubt I ever walked out of there with more than about ten bucks in my tip jar, but lord did it ever keep me amused!

You are so dead on when you talk about how everybody has the good luck charms and the rituals. I was continually amazed at how pissed they'd get if somebody sat at THEIR spot or if anybody touched their card even by accident...

On the flip side of it, there were a lot of really poor people who played Bingo for the chance to maybe make some cash while they were out for the night. Seemed like there were a LOT of people with riveting life stories there each week. Whole lotta sadness too.

I wonder sometimes what became of some of those folks.


Laura