A Column about Life

I love hearing from my readers. And I mean that sincerely.

If there were no readers, there would be no writers. A writer is often inspired to write something special because of something that comes in from a reader. Like the following email I received today:

'Dear Geno,' a reader writes. 'I have been following your columns for the past year or so and find them quite interesting. I know you are a gambler, a poker player, and a journalist. Would you mind telling me what was the most significant event that ever happened to you?' Jean W., Ft. Worth, Texas.

The most significant event that ever happened to me? That is quite a question.

There are so many things that happen in a person's life that I hardly know where to begin. But Jean's question did trigger a flood of memories. And as most of you know, the human brain is the greatest computer ever created.

I could touch on so many things. Falling in love at age 19 with a 17-year-old girl who lived in a hollow near my home. Interviewing Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell. Going deer hunting with my father in the splendid mountain terrain of Western Pennsylvania.

Since this is a gambling website, I guess I could mention winning a major poker tournament that paid my bills for six months. My brother Legs says if I had managed my money better, it would have lasted a lot longer than that and he's probably right.

But in answer to Jean's question, I am not going to list any of those things as the most significant event of my life. It was a dance on Halloween night in a movie called 'Picnic'.

The author of the screenplay was William Inge, an incredible writer I had the pleasure of meeting in Phoenix, AZ. Inge had written a prison play starring Nick Nolte that was being played at the Phoenix Little Theater.

I was assigned by my newspaper editor Vic Thornton to interview him. I didn't realize it at the time but Inge was an alcoholic just six months away from committing suicide.

'Picnic' was a film about Madge, a small town girl, who meets a former high school football star played by Wiliiam Holden. Kim Novak was given the role of Madge.

The story line has her engaged to a successful young business owner played by Cliff Robertson. She isn't in love with but agrees to the marriage because it is expected of her.

I guess I fell in love with Kim Novak in the film. I knew she looked and sounded like the girl I wanted for myself. Years later I would find the girl of my dreams and marry her. She looked and even sounded a lot like Kim.

But that night in the theater I watched as Holden and Novak met at the Neewollah Celebration dance in the town squate. Neewollah, by the way, is Halloween spelled backwards.

Beneath a dark sky next to a sparkling lake, the band breaks into 'Moonglow,' the theme from 'Picnic.' Holden starts snapping his fingers and moves onto the dance floor. And Kim Novak follows him there and they dance.

It was probably the most romantic scene ever created in a film. All I know is that I followed the dance moves of the two of them and at that moment realized what I wanted out of life and what a relationship with a woman was really all about.

I realize this column may not be entirely appropriate with gamblers and poker players. But I strongly suspect that some of them will relate to it. Look up the dance on Youtube. Better yet, rent or buy the movie 'Picnic'.

And Jean, bless you for writing.