try to get a straight answer...

The other day I called my friend Roy to gauge how much money he was going to bet on Kansas City covering the Super Bowl:

"More than you got son. It will be enough to buy the wife something nice with plenty leftover for a trip or two."

"Come on man, give me an actual dollar. You're probably talking ten grand or higher. I'm curious Roy. Tell me the actual amount."

"Like I said son, more money than you got."

He's weird like that. Instead of telling me the actual amount of his bet it's always the same answers... "More than you got boy; enough to buy my wife something nice; enough to make your asshole pucker; enough to court a couple of party girls for the week."

It's my belief he answers this way to shield the actual amount of money he loses. 

"Come on Roy. Give a straight answer for once."

"Let's put it this way boy. It's way more than you got in your bank account. I can guarantee you that much for sure."

He wasn't going to give up the actual amount. So we moved on to what happens if they don't cover.

"Not going to happen asshole. Andy, Patrick & the rest of the gang are going to beat the hell out of Tampa Bay. It won't even be close motherfucker," the confidence in his voice not wavering a bit.

"I admire your enthusiasm Roy. I got to know though. What happens if they don't cover?"

"Then I am out the money and my wife will throw me into the street," seriousness in his voice, "Stop fucking asking. KC is going to destroy Tampa Bay & the wad is going to get several inches thicker. That is what is going to happen!"

My plan is to watch the championship at my associate Fred's place. 

"Fred, we can start the dynasty talk after they win," exclaiming to him in no uncertain terms, "That will be two in a row with a bright future ahead. What do you think about that?"

"We'll see. They got to win this one before we start talking dynasty."

"They will," is my forceful response.

Whenever Fred and I watch the games; undoubtedly, we will see an advertisement for a food delivery application (Grubhub, Postmates, DoorDash). It's painful seeing how successful the process has become knowing full well I was at the forefront of it...I missed out as usual.

"Goddamn Fred, did you see how much the initial public offering of DoorDash is. It's valued at over sixty fucking billion. That's billion with a fucking b!" 

If you've followed the blog for a substantial amount of time you are familiar with my foray into the restaurants of Chinatown. Those restaurants are worth millions upon millions nowadays. I was there before anyone; with connections to boot...still I failed...it's a hard pill to swallow nowadays.

"Think about all those fucking restaurants I had under my thumb Fred. I was in Chinatown before anyone else. It was ours for the taking and it got away. Think about all the money & opportunities this family lost because I was weak. It's the biggest miss in family history."

Fred remembers the time I am referencing. I ask him if he has any regrets about it; knowing full well how profitable the process has become. 

"You need to let it go. It's over now. You missed," is his terse response to my question.

I ask again in hopes of getting an answer.

"Get a life," is his next terse response.