around bad weather and the damage it has done to
my sense of well-being, not to mention my aircraft.
For that reason, I pay close attention to present and
forecast weather. On this trip, my forecast consist-
ed of nightly attention to the Weather Channel and
CNN. Neither one predicted the fast moving front
that caught up with me just before my planned
Eastbound turn onto I-70. As I was driving north-
ward on 1-15, I could see the peaks of the Rockies
on my right begin to disappear in snow clouds. This
was not a good sign. I stopped at a rest stop and
talked with a trucker who was intending to take my
same route. I figured he would have the latest
weather information from his dispatcher. His com-
ment offered no reassurance. He said he was going,
no matter what. If they had the "chain restrictions"
in place, he would just sit it out at the "hold" point
until they lifted the restrictions. Chain restrictions?
I'm driving a 10' rental truck and I don't have no
stinkin' chains. Moreover, I do not have the luxury
of time to wait out the storm if the interstate is
closed to all but the Humvee crowd. I have to be
back at work two days after my planned arrival
home. I made a command decision and pressed on
northward toward Salt Lake and the fickle 1-80.
driveway at 9 PM, the night of the fourth day, just
as planned. I was tired and I smelled like weeks-old
cigarettes, compliments of the previous renters of
my truck. In addition, I was catching a terrific cold.
I could not have been happier than if I had won the
lottery.
The machines are now divided between my work-
room and a rental storage unit close to my house. I
work on the games as I find time and the mood hits
me. Whenever I go to the storage unit and open the
door, the immensity of my good fortune strikes me
and I break into a wide grin. Most of the games are
missing a small part or two, compliments of the
anti-gambling laws in existence at the time during
the early 1970's in California. It will take some
time to get them back into full operating condition,
one game at a time. I'm in no rush. I have not sold
any of them even though I have had opportunity and
several requests. You will appreciate this; they are
my children. They have come to me for reasons I
cannot fully understand but most certainly appreci-
ate. I must treasure each and every one before I can
think of letting them go back into the world on their
own.
1-80 can be a truly treacherous drive during the win-
ter when the wind whips the snow into impenetra-
ble drifts and the hills go from dry to ice with no
warning. I had no knowledge of the weather up
ahead; I was just trying to outrun the storm to my
Southeast. They say that Fate smiles upon children
and drunks. I do not drink and drive so I'll claim
the child's exemption. With the exception of one
very nasty roll-over accident that I passed just out-
side Rock Springs, Wyoming, it was a beautiful
drive. In fact, the view coming out of Salt Lake was
so stunning that I had to turn off the radio and focus
all my attention to the wonders outside the window.
If you have not traveled the mountain passes of
Utah and the high chaparrals of Wyoming, you have
a treat yet in store. I made good time and was even
able to hunt up a semi-lost second cousin in
Rawlins, Wyoming for a quick reunion. It was a
great trip. Given that I was driving the Mother lode
home made it just that much better. I pulled into my
Do you believe in Fate? Had I not discovered and
made the deal for "Domino, Model 4," I would not
have been in a position to recognize the significance
of "Multiball" when it appeared for sale. Without
"Multiball," I never would have had the opportuni-
ty to discover and purchase The Glenn Collection.
Do I believe in Fate? Let me answer the question
this way: If Fate is the hunter, I am a sitting duck.
"Quack! Quack!"
The End
Post Script: As always, when not ducking his family
responsibilities, John can be found at home. He always
delights hearing from other collectors of these fabulous
British and European games. You can reach him at
www.jp4@charter.net or (952) 891-2312. Next time,
we'll explore the fascinating subject of British fortune
tellers, unless Fate has other ideas in mind!
8