Back in my other life, about 20 years ago, I was a Pediatric Neurologist practicing in Miami. Nobody of my specialty practiced in the Bahamas, so one or two Fri-Sat a month I would go and offer free service, for about 15 years. Being a good black Jack player and enjoying the game and the beach, I would usually stay at the old Merv Griffing Paradise Island Resort for the weekend with or without my family, and after a while all compt.

For years counting came natural to me and lets say that my winning were only capped by my concerns of getting caught.

One day, no different than any other,. two very big Bahamian guys stood behind me, said nothing and waited for the shoe to finished. Then, they said, Dr Alvarez, please get up with your winnings. And said for the first, but certainly not the last time. "This is our house, you have been a guest for many years and you were welcome in "our house". Now, you are no longer welcome in our house. You can stay for the weekend, free as always, and then you will no longer be welcome to our house". If you ever come into our house again, you would be trespassing, and as a trespasser in the Bahamas, you are subject to the rule of the land made to defend home owners from trespassers, which can go from going to jail to getting shot if we feel you are dangerous. I pleaded my case, but they just kept repeating the "my house...." song.

Realizing that I was not in a movie and that the end was not created to make the audience happy by letting the hero win, I quietly checked out and moved on to Crystal Palace Hotel & Casino where I played for many more weekends and never heard the "My house ...." song, which continued to play on my head anytime I had the urge to change the outcome of the game......

Now, well, I can barely count, so I am safe. But just so you guys know, it does not only happens in the movies.... Careful

GO CANES