In Vancouver, we visited My Rare One's Auntie Olga, who is a big fan of bingo. So one evening we tagged along to the Croatian Community Centre and played bingo with her and about 500 other hopefuls. Here we are setting up and waiting to buy our bingo cards. Thank goodness Auntie Olga was well supplied with daubers so she had more than enough to go around.
As you undoubtedly know, all bingo players have little good luck charms and tokens that they set out on the table to attract good bingo juju. So I dug around in my purse and managed to come up with my own little collection -- part of a Moon Card from the Voyager tarot deck, a Thor's hammer pendant, a triple-spiral goddess rock, a key to some long forgotten door, and a rather grimy little quartz chip. You will note that I also hogged the rainbow dauber, of course.
My Rare One and I were comfortable playing up to six bingo cards at a time but more than that did not go well. When playing nine cards, we'd get behind and miss numbers. Auntie Olga played a dozen or more cards with ease, of course.
Alas, the bingo gods did not smile on us that evening. We won nuttin, my friends, NUTTIN. But we had a good time with Auntie Olga and that's the important thing!
[Photos by My Rare One, August 2019]
I don't think I'd be able to manage multiple cards either. The last time I played bingo it was at one of Philly's Gay Bingo events (the theme was Hairspray, the musical). Ah the hilarity that ensued when O-69 was called. :D
ReplyDeletethis really made me chuckle first thing in the morning! i'm so impressed that you had all of the charms in your purse. i never carry a purse. i hate them. i would have been screwed.
ReplyDelete:) Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteYou have a purse like Mary Poppins' carpet bag!! I was thinking what I might be able to set out as good luck charms. Lip balm? Free dental floss from the dentist? A Kleenex? -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI hate bingo but went with my mother on occasion. I was thrilled when she decided to save her money and stay away from it however. The time with her was worth the torture though.
ReplyDeleteWell of course you didn't win.. no unicorn charm! That's your downfall, you probably more than likely offended the bingo spirits!
ReplyDeleteGood charms. I think you have to get blessed by the Bingo High Priestess before you enter the bingo hall. She speaks in tongues near the cards and she plays about 100 cards at once all smeared out on the table. Word of caution, if you don't come early enough to be blessed, she gets drunk on power and uses it all for herself. That's what I heard.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to have you back.
My mother would have loved your Rare One's Aunt Olga.
ReplyDeleteBingo is serious business...I don't think I could do very many cards at once...I'd end up getting frustrated and flipping the table hahaah j/k
ReplyDeletedid not know there were rainbow markers! how cool!
ReplyDeleteI have not played bingo in a long time; but it IS fun!
Good old Auntie Olga! That sounds like fun...
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I had a roommate for a while who enjoyed the Bingo and we tagged along a few times. I couldn't keep track of more than two cards! Shelly, the roommate, and ALL the oldsters had tables-worth of cards going at the same time. Crazy!
I'm impressed that you managed six!
I have a spider named Olga who lives in my bathroom ceiling with her kids!
ReplyDelete"Six cards" … impressive. I get confused with just one. P.S. Love the rainbow dauber.
ReplyDeleteI haven't played bingo in YEARS! There are times when I'd love to go and play again.
ReplyDeleteI can remember all the people that had their "special" seats and all their good luck charms placed around their table space.
You two know how to have fun!
ReplyDeleteWhoa. Lots of people there. They play bingo 4 times a week at my center. I don't play. I spend the time working in my puzzle book or playing an online game on my phone.
ReplyDeleteGambling?! Auntie Olga is a bad influence on you. What's next? Social dancing? Playing cards?
ReplyDeleteOhh bingo is fun!
ReplyDeleteI did go to Drag Bingo once in Pittsburgh and it was a blast!
In that pic looks like that that joint was jumping
XoXo
I don't have patience for bingo.
ReplyDeleteOMG..haven't played Bingo forever..Interesting tokens that you came up with..I don't think I would have been as lucky..Sorry they didn't bring you any luck..A dozen cards!! Good grief..A Bingo pro for sure..
ReplyDeleteAuntie Olga sounds like a pro. I don't think I could manage more than I few cards myself.
ReplyDeleteThe good luck charms are fab.
I would so enjoy playing bingo with an older relative. Now I am the old relative.
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds like so much fun. I haven't played bingo in so long that I can't remember the last time. I'm going to look around and see if I can find a bingo parlor near me.
ReplyDeleteThey cancelled bingo at the main library here. A new girl took over running it and she was not happy getting chewed out by old people.
ReplyDeleteHello Debra, You sent me your lucky stone--no wonder you lost!
ReplyDelete--Jim
@ Parnassus (Jim) -- D'oh! You're right! All is clear now!
ReplyDeletebingo smeenjo..I'm just thrilled to see those 2 beautiful faces..love those faces..
ReplyDeleteHaven't played Bingo since my now wife and I went on a date set up between our respective mothers. Did it for a few months, on and off, but haven't played it since.
ReplyDeleteI went to a bingo hall once. Glbtq bingo in San Diego. I was overwhelmed with TWO cards!
ReplyDeleteAuntie Ogla sounds excellent player dear Debra :)
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing your happy times of family gathering
i loved your photos :)
Awe how cute is this! My grandma was a Bingo master as well I could not keep up with on card let alone her handful!
ReplyDeleteI haven't played bingo for over a year. It can be fun.
ReplyDeleteI played Bingo once and I couldn't even keep up with 4 cards lol...these Bingo players are such pros...it's so much fun!
ReplyDeleteOh it's the thrill of the game that counts. With those fancy daubers you look like a pro.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I played bingo. Perhaps, because I've been trying to forge it--I did probably as well as you and your Rare One and won just as much. Yay! for Auntie. Maybe we need better bingo juju.
ReplyDeleteThat key opens Pandora's Box where all the winning bingo cards are kept.
ReplyDelete@ Powdered Toast Man -- Damn! NOW you tell me!
ReplyDeleteOMG that takes me back. That Saturday night Bingo they had on TV. And you had to buy your cards at the gas station and my Baba would play a dozen cards like a test pilot. Where is the troll doll? I thought all you Bingo addicts had a troll doll. I of course won't play Bingo because I choose to not mix with those type of people. Troll doll owners I mean. Something off about them. But you are troll doll free so we can remain friends.
ReplyDeleteMy friends are I were hysterical when we attempted to play bingo. I don't think we had six cards yet we still struggled and were given dirty looks by the regulars! And we didn't win.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I would need to write the numbers down as they are called while looking for them. It's a good thing I am ambidexterous and can write with both hands.
ReplyDeleteA Croatian community hall. I assume dumplings were to be had? I know you're on vacation, but I need my dumpling roundup.
ReplyDelete@ brewella deville -- Ha ha yes, I believe they were on the menu! We had sub sandwiches for dinner, though.
ReplyDeleteReally? I did not know this viz. the charms and god-like circumstances around a BINGO parlor.
ReplyDeleteGlad you came out winners in spite of the Bingo outcome.
ReplyDeleteMy Morticia used to go to bingo with her mum years ago, she's not been for a long time though. I've never been, I've heard the regulars can get aggressive if newcomers win.
ReplyDeleteLove your Mjölnir, I wear one all the time.
YAY! Bingo!!! I never win because I'm too busy watching all of the folks around me, especially the old Italian ladies. They are masters of the cards and colorful language, sometimes in Italian-ish. Sometimes there are arguments over who called bingo first, but they mostly yell at the caller for "not calling right." HA!
ReplyDeleteI haven't played Bingo in ages! I should see if mom wants to go!! This is such a cute post! You look great with Auntie Olga, Debra!! Love all your little tokens! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I have good luck charms when I play blackjack in Vegas, not as impressive as yours though.
ReplyDelete