16 Mars: Chessboard made by Soup
I want to make this blog post in English in tribute for the Wheeler family. But I want to warn you for my bad english.
After the visit in Fort Worth - Stockyard me and Linda was invited to Tyler where Neil and Rachel lived. It was 2 hour drive East from Forth Worth.
Neils father - the famous Johnny Wheeler - was a true Texas rounder back in the 50 - 60. Johnny Wheeler played against all the big names - and he is on The Senior Hall of fame.
Johnny bought a big ranch and build a house in Tyler - strictly för poker and gambling.
I was amazing place where Neil and Rachel now lived in.
The Wheeler ranch is not a gambling place anymore. Neil breeds now horses. Well not Neil himself - the horses do.
Linda and Rachel.
At the ranch, I met a wonderful character - the former Rodeo Clown Ricky, who had saved many cowboys from the bull's wrath. (The Wheelers had also its own rodeo arena for 4000 spectators.)
Ricky who has been deaf since childhood has worked for the The Wheeler family for 44 years and he takes care of all the horses everyday of the year.
Ricky with the Swedish flag. Ricky was very good at imitate various celebrities.
The work place for Ricky, and he is living on the Ranch and protect it when Neil and Rachel is traveling arround or working.
Ricky showed us lot of nice pictures when he worked as a brave Rodeo Clown.
Brave Ricky in action.
Neil and Rachel showed us around their beautiful ranch and on the porch, I found a pinball machine which I gladly had brought me home to Sweden and exchanged against my own that I have in my mancave.
In the evening, Neil and Rachel invited us to an Italian restaurant with Neil's daughter Ally and Rachel's son Gage, and my bad english revealed itself again.
I told them about my visit to the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville, where the prisoners made the games and toys of what was provided in the prison.
I told her about the chessboard as the prisoners had done.
"Yes, and and the chessboard was made of soup."
I saw then that Neil looked a little strange at me and started thinking.
"Was it done on soup? Froze them down soup, then? Well, the prisoners had lot of time so maybe they got into it in some weird way", Neil thought to himself.
Neil later understand what I meant, when Linda corrected me.
The chess pieces and chess board was of course not made of soup. (soppa) It was made by soap. (Såpa)
In Stockyard i was sleeping in a historical room - The Bonnie and Clyde room.
In Tyler i was sleeping in a another historical room - the former pokerroom - where the tough cashgames was played back in the 50 - 60.
Neil sitting on his fathers gambling table.
Linda and I thank you that you invited us into your home and for your generosity.
Se you soon in Vegas
