Friday the 13th 7-13-2007
13 has been considered bad luck for centuries. The Turks effectively banned the number from their language. Vikings feared that if 13 guests sat to dinner, all of them would die within a year under the curse of Loki, their god of mischief. Some humans reject this belief and Manhattan has both East and West 13th Streets, however most high-rises on that fabled island are missing the 13th floor.
Many superstitions have their base in gambling and many gamblers exhibit an extraordinary fear of the #13 aka triskaidekaphobia.
There are usually 1-3 Friday the 13ths in a calendar year.
I encountered its power in Reno Nevada 9-13-1974.
My friend Andy Kornfeld and I were driving cross country in a drive-away station wagon. Boston-Sterling Colorado-Thompson Canyon-the Id Lounge in roosevelt Utah before hitting the Stateline of Nevada. I had never gambled in a casino and stopped at a rundown bar. An older woman was dealing blackjack. I won $200 in an hour. you could buy a car for $200. My luck held out for Ely and Winnemucca. $800 is like 8000 in today’s greenbacks. Andy had also been lucky. Up $400, but lukc on friday the 13th runs out of breath fast.
In Reno I acepted a leggy waitress offer of a drink.
Jack Coke.
I don’t remember much after the fifth drink and woek the next morning by the Truckee River. My hangover felt like the casino goons had beat me up for winning too much. A quick check of my pocekts confirmed the opposite. I was bsuted. Not a dollar to my name.
Andy say by the river.
“Did i lose everything?”
“yeah, it was pretty amazing. You gave me $500 and told me not to give it to you.”
“And you did?”
“Never heard anyone beg like that. Not even a junkie.”
“Shit.” 2700 miles from Boston without a dime to my name. “At least we ddin’t sell the car.”
“No, but you tried.”
“Idiot.” I washed my face in the mountain stream and we drove the Lodi, where we dropped off the station wagon to an elderly couple. They tipped us $20. The car didn’t have a scratch on it and we had cleaned it. Andy took $10. I had hoped that he would have given we the full 20.
The couple gave us a ride to the highway.
Andy was hitching to San Diego. I was hitting the PCH to Big Sur. he smiled guiiltily and handed me a paper bag. inside was $500.
“So I didn’t blow it.” This was the opposite line from Captain America’s in EASY RIDER.
“No, but I didn’t trust you with the 500 this morning because I thought you’d go back and really blow it.”
“Yeah, you were probably right.” The $500 lasted a month and I learned a valuable lesson. I’m no gambler. A drunk sure but no Cinncinati Kid and also that drinking is more bad luck than friday the 13th whatever day you’re playing cards.
Other well-known gambling phobias
Never sit at seat #10 at a poker table.
Always wear red underwear when gambling.
In craps, always blow on the dice before you roll them. That apparently seals in the luck. However, should the dice leave the table, the next throw will be bad.
Poker players should switch card protectors if luck is running bad
For some, dropping a card during a game is a real no-no; it’s very bad luck. Others, however, contend you should raise your next bet in that circumstance suggesting that it’s good luck.
Always enter and leave a casino through the same door.
Singing can be either good luck or bad luck while you gamble.
Don’t count your money during a poker session.
Stay away from sex the night before you play. (Not the most popular superstition).
Never let dogs near a gambling table. (Apparently they’re bad luck and no good at poker).
Never accept being paid with a $50 bill. They’re called “Frogs” and are said to be unlucky.
Never touch someone’s shoulder while he is gambling.
Don’t enter a casino through its main entrance; it’s cursed.
Switch on all the lights at home before leaving to gamble.
Thankfully nothing really bad happened this Friday the 13th
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