I refuse to be reticent anymore…

To those who will miss out on this year’s Okie-Vegas … I’m sorry. It breaks my heart to see people put such an effort together, give more than a year notice to those who have asked for it and watch those reluctant to make such a commitment year after year. I can hear the excuses that have been given in the past.

“Well, we can’t come since it’s during the WSOP,” – We changed the date.

“Well, we can’t come since we can’t get a rental car,” – We’ll pick you up from the airport and take you back.

“Well…” – It’s ok, we understand. Yes, it’s Oklahoma. Yes, it’s summer. Yes, it will be hotter than hell. But Okie-Vegas is what true friendship is about.

It’s about personal sacrifice for others.

There comes a point in every person’s life where you have to make decisions that mean more to you than anything. I wanted people to visit Gary, I invited people from far and wide to enjoy the joy of Gary and Carrie’s hospitality and yet I watched those who always said they would visit “next year” slip away once again. Look, if you’re not going to come, if you can’t afford it, don’t find it interesting, just tell them. Don’t give the people that put on one of the greatest events in this world a kick in the ass and a “See you next year if I can.”

I may be a C-lister according to Joaquin, but everyone who expects the C/D/E/F listers to help the A/B listers out for whatever project they have need to have their head examined when they blow off the Z-Listers.

Sometimes the Z-Listers need some love too.

I can’t wait to meet some of the BEST people in the world again. I can’t wait to see Kat Goodale, Mark Remen, Karen Remen, Gary Cox, Shawn Sparks and many more of the Okie-Vegas crew.

Our crew may be small in comparison to others gatherings in the poker world, we may be insane to be in the Oklahoma heat, but we will treasure every moment of this year’s event.

I can’t thank Kat and the Remens for the sacrifices they make to come see Gary, Carrie and the rest of us in Oklahoma. It may not seem like much, but a tear comes to my eye each year I see you. You come for friendship, tall tales and 3/2 beer. You come for a chicken fry that’s bigger than your head, the best karaoke around and moonshine that you can’t find anywhere else.

You come for the incredible hospitality of Gary Cox and his wonderful wife Carrie. They ask for nothing, and expect even less. They just want to show everyone a good time.

They have made me part of their family. I consider Gary Cox and Shawn Sparks my older brothers that I never had, but I needed badly.

Right now my wife doesn’t have a job, work has delayed remote payments and I took my kids for nearly a month. These were my decisions, but now I am responsible for the consequences of my actions. But yet, I’m going and my wife is making some of her delicious Banana Pudding Cake, soon to be Okie-Vegas Most Requested. I’m making my sacrifice.

I’m going because I was asked to return, not once, but every time I was leaving Okie-Vegas by Gary and Carrie.

I will continue to do so.

I won’t be dial-a-shotting anyone this weekend, because most of the people who I want to DAS, will already be there.