Easin’ Along readers know that Helen was diagnosed with breast cancer in January this year and began a regimen of 12 weekly chemotherapy treatments shortly after. Even though the chemo drained her energy and resulted in some hair loss, we both feel that the treatments went well. With that phase of treatment behind us, we decided we needed an RV trip to relax and celebrate. The mountains of North Carolina called us.
Happy Holiday Campground in Cherokee, North Carolina, is always our first choice. With wide, spacious campsites and a bubbling creek to lull us to sleep at night, we consider ourselves fortunate to have such a lovely setting within a short distance from home. We planned a five-day stay, but we shortened our trip to three days due to some issues with my Mom. Three days would still provide a nice rest.
We arrived on Friday afternoon and began setting up when I realized I had made a big mistake. I’m unsure if I ever shared that I have sleep apnea and need a CPAP to sleep at night. I am utterly dependent on the machine; with it, I sleep—without it, I don’t. Unfortunately, I left my CPAP at home. I was not going to spend three days in the campground without sleep, so I decided to drive back to Knoxville and retrieve my sleep machine. Helen remained in the campground and watched people and the creek flow by.
I returned to the campground, CPAP in hand, around nine o’clock that evening. I was wide awake and suggested to Helen that we run over to the casino for an hour of fun before calling it a night. She was surprised. Usually, you couldn’t drag me out of my house at that time of the night, but Helen loves the casino and warmed up to the idea pretty quickly.
Cherokee Casino is about three miles from the campground, and on this Friday night, the place was hopping. As is our usual practice, we ventured off in different directions. I usually find an obscure part of the main floor while Helen wants to be in the middle of the action. Within fifteen minutes of unwinding with some casual gameplay, I received a text from my better half. “I won $2,142!” I could almost hear her screaming through the message. A picture of her at the winning machine is at the top.
By the time I found her, Helen had already received her winnings (along with a Federal tax form) and was eagerly looking for another slot machine to conquer. She held her own for the rest of the night and the rest of the trip. I coaxed a single one hundred dollar bill away from her vise-like grip on her money, but this was not my weekend. I did get one big thrill, however. On Sunday night, a lady sitting in the row behind me put four dollars into a machine and, on one pull, hit the jackpot for over $13,000. Everyone sitting around her rose and gave her a standing ovation. It was fun to see.
Before readers get the idea that the only thing we did was gamble, let me dissuade you. On Saturday, we drove to Sylva and spent some time at Captain Bill’s Flea Market. This is a vast market, and we walked to the end. Some booths had interesting items, but we resisted. At the last booth, I spotted a hardback copy of The Judge’s List, John Grisham’s latest novel, in like-new condition. Currently, I am reading Grisham’s The Whistler, featuring the same main characters. The lady running the booth let me have the hardback for five dollars. I consider the purchase my win for the weekend.
Relaxed and rested, we’re Easin’ Along.
That sounds wonderful! Just what both of you needed!
We had a great time…and the timing was good too!
Sounds like the perfect get away!
Hi!
Short but sweet! Here’s hoping we’ll have a few more soon. Please stay in touch! Joe
Fantastic news!! I’m happy its going good. I hope you went back to the casino the next nite while she had a hot hand, LOL!
Mike, keeping Helen out of a casino is impossible when it’s close by. She could play all night. She did much better on this trip than our last one.
Joe, You and Helen were “winners” before you made that late night trip to the casino. I thank God for you both. Keep on the go and keep on looking for the best in all people.
David,
Thanks for your kind comments. We stay on the go as long as we’re vertical and taking nourishment! Great to hear from you!
Congratulations to you both – big score for Helen and a book for you. Sounds like the perfect get-a-way. P.S. great photo of Helen. She looks both happy and surprised.
Hey,
Everything about it was fun…except the four-hour roundtrip to Knoxville on day one! After that, things went swimmingly! Hope your trip planning is going well! Joe
Winning at life, with a restful vacation, gambling wins, and a book purchase! Jackpot!
Good afternoon, Kathy,
We love the RV lifestyle and hope to do it for a long time. Helen did well, and I had to drag her out of there! Thanks for stopping by. Joe
Congratulations to both of you and as I mentioned in your FB post, I hope you both had a wonderful dinner or two! I saw your comment that your mother is having issues. Know that we are praying for some semblance of peace throughout this process. Thanks for sharing your pictures, Joe.
Thanks, Dan,
Mom fell and broke three ribs. We have her in a nearby facility for treatment and therapy. Hopefully, she’ll recover and can return to the senior living home she loves. Keep those prayers coming—they work. Our best to you both! Thanks for checking in. Joe
As always , it is fun to read the accounts of your travels..Congratulations on all those wins, and thanks for sharing the wonderful photos and letting us enjoy your adventures.
Jennie,
Thanks for the nice comments and for checking in. We’re making fewer trips right now, but still enjoy every one! Have a great Labor Day! Joe
What an awesome trip. Joe and Hele. So well deserved!
Hello!
Thanks, Donna. It was good to get away, even for only a few days. Thanks for stopping by! Joe
Congratulations on winning big and small, Joe! You both needed the distraction and rest (although driving back home for the CPAP couldn’t have been fun). BTW, Helen looks darling in that pink wig (if I’m seeing that correctly)! Today, Hans and I loaded up the truck and took the paddleboards to the lake for our “staycation” something more I will be sharing for the upcoming Sunday Stills. I originally did not want to go (100F today!) but it was just what I needed! You two really know how to enjoy life 🙂
Hello, Terri,
I would love to have your energy. Anyone who can muster up the will to go paddleboarding in 100 degree weather is my hero. We went in the opposite direction and chose to sit by a creek and visit a casino. I did make my exercise class today so I’m not feeling too guilty. Helen’s wig proved to be her good luck charm…kinda cute too! Always great to hear from you. Joe
What fun!!! Good deal on the book. We get all his books!!! Helen has that magic touch!!! Hope your mom is ok!!!! Luanne
Good morning, LuAnne,
We had a great time, and Helen’s experience was over the top. I am a big Grisham fan, and my daughter-in-law recommended this book, so I was so glad to find a copy for cheap. Mom is better–she fell and broke some ribs but is getting good care now. Great to hear from you. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Joe
Congratulations to Helen!!! There’s nothing like a little unexpected jingle in your pocket to turn a pleasant getaway into a joyous celebration. If you play your cards right, Joe, maybe Helen will let you borrow her lucky wig for a while the next time you go to Cherokee! I hope your Mom’s recovery goes smoothly. Three broken ribs – that has to be painful. And I agree with David’s comment above – you and Helen are both winners – inside or outside the casino!
Good morning, Mary,
I so enjoyed our chat yesterday–it was fun. Now that I think about it, Helen’s wig might do the trick for me. I can imagine the stares a 6’4″ creature with purple hair would attract. I might clear the place out with that look, LOL! Your Labor Day trip sounds like a lot of fun. Travel safely and enjoy your family time. We’ll talk soon. Joe
What a blast! I love the pic of Helen in the casino. That purple wig suits her—she looks adorable. Maybe it did bring her good luck? That’s quite a good win! So what else did you spend your ‘share’ of the winnings on? You still have $95 left, right? LOL!!
On a more serious note, I hope your mom recovers quickly and can return to her home soon. It’s so wonderful that she has you close by.
Hi, Laurel,
I took my share straight to the lounge where I had better luck. We peeled Helen’s fingers off the machine and finally got her out of there, but she could have stayed all night. Despite my losses, we had a great time. You and Eric should meet us there someday. Mom is doing better–thanks for the good wishes. Can’t wait to see where you two are and read all about it. Take care and travel safely. Joe