We left Grand Rapids on Friday afternoon, thinking this was going to be a volleyball weekend. By the time we got home Monday night, it had turned into something bigger than that. A championship run. A migraine lesson at age fifty. And a quiet internal wrestling match with a casino that sat just a few blocks from our hotel.
The Drive to Milwaukee and the Chicago Crawl
Winter had finally loosened its grip on West Michigan when we pulled out of the driveway around 3:30 pm. After weeks of what felt like nonstop snow and brutal cold, we were suddenly driving on dry pavement in low to mid-40-degree weather. It felt like freedom. No slowdowns, no slush, no white knuckles on the steering wheel.
Until Chicago.
Because of the time change from Eastern to Central, we hit the city right at rush hour. Google Maps tried to save us from a 22-minute backup on I-94 by routing us onto I-90 straight through downtown. That sounded bold and efficient. It turned out to be another 20-minute crawl, and every alternate route looked just as red.
So we crawled.
The thing about Chicago traffic is that it rarely comes to a complete stop. With six or seven lanes in each direction, it just keeps inching forward. Being that close to the tall buildings almost made it worth it. I was fascinated by the commuter trains running right down the middle of the highway, with stations and people waiting just yards away from cars flying by at highway speeds.
Once north of downtown, we stopped at the first toll road Oasis for restrooms. It was fine. Perfectly acceptable. But we both remembered stopping at that exact same Oasis last year for this same tournament and wishing we had waited for something nicer just a few miles ahead.
Apparently, we do not learn.
Checking In and Spotting the Casino
When we finally rolled into downtown Milwaukee, our first stop was the Baird Center to grab our weekend bracelets. Susie ran inside while I stayed with the truck. $95 later, we were officially committed to three days of volleyball.
Travel sports is not cheap. Gas, parking, hotel, food, and entry fees. It adds up quickly. But we did not drive all the way to Milwaukee to sit on the sidelines.
We checked into the Residence Inn a few blocks away and unloaded our bags from the half circle out front. I then parked the F-150 in the underground garage for thirty dollars a day. I do not love paying thirty dollars to park. I do love secure underground parking in a downtown setting.
The room surprised me. Sixteen-foot ceilings. Windows stretching all the way to the top. Rope-controlled curtains that made it feel like an old downtown loft. We were facing west, and there it was in plain sight. Potawatomi Casino.
And that is where the subplot begins.
Friday Night in Downtown Milwaukee
On Friday night, as we headed out to find food, I was already quietly wondering when I might sneak over there. Not in a reckless way. In a curious way. I have been slowly rebuilding a modest blackjack bankroll after losing it all in December. A $100 tip at work, birthday money, and a $250 Super Bowl square win had me back up to $390.
I have this quiet aspiration of becoming a recreational card counter. Not a high roller. Just a disciplined player who can occasionally take money from a casino with a small mathematical edge.
But I was still getting over a head cold on Friday night. So the casino stayed glowing in the distance while we walked to Mo’s Irish Pub instead.
Potbelly’s had already stopped serving food, even though the sign said they were open. So Mo’s it was. Fried cheese curds were mandatory because we were in Wisconsin. Elena got chicken fingers. Susie had a Reuben and a couple of Spotted Cows. I stuck with Dr. Pepper and told myself I would think about the casino later.
We were joined by one of Elena’s teammates, Jocelyn, and her family – Mali, Charlie, and Emma. On the walk back, we ran into some Northview volleyball parents out looking for a drink. Downtown Milwaukee has that kind of feel. Everything is close. Everything feels alive.
And the weather! Last year, this same weekend was sub-zero with snow blowing sideways. We walked nine blocks, back and forth, through bitter cold and snow-covered sidewalks to get to the venue. This year it was high 40s and 50s, and our walk to the venue was only 4 blocks. Comfortably walking the streets of downtown Milwaukee in just sweatshirts was amazing.
Saturday: Pajamas, a 2-1 Start, and Papa Steve
Friday evening, getting ready for bed, I realized I had forgotten to pack pajamas. I had three pairs set aside at home and somehow never put them in my bag. So I slept in my jeans and tried not to think about it.
A quick walk to TJ Maxx first thing Saturday morning solved that problem for $9.99. Elena and I also hit Walgreens and found lemon meringue pie M&M’s. Two of my favorite things combined into one questionable snack decision that somehow felt perfect for tournament weekend.
The hotel breakfast was best described by Emma as “meh.” Pancakes, eggs, potatoes. Nothing offensive. Nothing memorable. My oatmeal with toppings was probably the highlight.
Rise went 2-1 on Saturday. They squeaked out a 26 to 24 first-set win in their opener and handled business in another match. After a 2-hour break, they faced another undefeated team and lost mostly because of their own mistakes. It was one of those matches where you walk away knowing you beat yourself.
Saturday’s real highlight had nothing to do with wins or losses. Susie’s papa Steve, was working in Chippewa Falls, about three and a half hours away, and decided to drive down just to surprise Elena. We did not tell her he was coming.
He walked in near the start of her second game, and the look on her face made every mile worth it. We hung out during the long break, caught up on life, and then he drove all the way back that same night. A 7-hour round trip to watch a few volleyball matches says a lot about a person.
Sunday: Brunch, 3-0, and a Migraine
Because Sunday play did not begin until the afternoon, we organized a team brunch at Copper on King. Just like last year. 28 of us packed into the restaurant, and this time they gave us the full brunch menu instead of a limited one. It felt like a small upgrade and a great bonding moment for parents and coach alike.
I had not had a drink in exactly one month since my 50th birthday. Recently, I have started getting headaches when I drink. Not hangovers. More like migraines that start halfway through the first drink.
So naturally, I ordered a beermosa.
Spotted Cow mixed with champagne. It sounded harmless. I could feel the headache forming before I even finished it. I took Tylenol and hoped for the best.
Despite my self-inflicted situation, Rise played outstanding volleyball on Sunday. They went 3-0 on the day. Three matches. Three wins. By the end of pool play, their overall record stood at 5-1.
That 5-1 record is what propelled them into the 3-seed in the Gold bracket heading into Monday’s single-elimination tournament play.
By the time we reached the Baird Center after brunch, my headache was getting worse. I put in earplugs to dull the noise and tried to power through. During one of the longer breaks, I found a quiet corner in the lobby, read my book, Advantage Players, by Michael Kaplan – I played some cards (practiced card-counting) and messed around on my phone, and swallowed more Tylenol than I care to admit.
Sunday night was rough. I pleaded with God at 4:30 in the morning to please make the headache go away. I even considered promising I would never drink again if He would just take it from me. I stopped short of making that vow because the Bible warns about promises you might not keep.
At 5:30, the headache finally broke.
The Casino Debate All Weekend Long
Meanwhile, the casino debate kept resurfacing. Saturday afternoon, I had a couple of hours after breakfast, and my TJ Maxx and Walgreens run. I could have gone then. Saturday night, I could have gone. Sunday morning, I could have gotten up early. Sunday night was technically possible before the migraine fully set in. Each time, I talked myself out of it.
In my head, it felt like a little cartoon. Devil on one shoulder telling me to go see what happens. Angel, on the other reminding me that $390 does not survive long at high table limits.
Monday morning bracket play made the decision for me.
Monday Bracket Play and the Gold Run
After two days of pool play, Rise entered as the 3-seed. For those unfamiliar, the first two days determine overall records and seeding. Day three is single elimination. Gold bracket is the top tier. Silver, bronze, and copper follow.
Gold means you are among the best records in the entire field.
They won their 9:00 game in two sets. In the second set, Kirby went on an 18-0 serving run. Eighteen to zero! The semifinal at 11:00 went three sets against a scrappy 2-seed who had a bye for the first round.
During that match, Grace went down with a bad ankle injury. Elena moved to middle without hesitation. She normally plays right side, but she can play anywhere on the floor. She stepped in like she had been there all season.
They pulled out the win.
The championship match at 1:00 was intense and also went three sets. When the final point dropped, Rise were gold bracket champions. Top team out of 24 in the 13-year-old division!
We did not drive all the way to Milwaukee to not bring home a championship.
The medal tent. The platform with the tournament logo. Coach Andi smiling and clearly proud. Parents high-fiving and telling each other how great the other kids played. We were all riding on cloud nine.
At the med station Monday morning, I talked blackjack with the two guys taping Elena’s thumb. They had a deck of cards and admitted they went to Potawatomi Sunday night. $25 minimum blackjack tables.
Twenty-five dollars!
My bankroll would not have lasted long. A little bad variance and I would have been right back to zero. That little detail felt like confirmation that maybe skipping the casino was wisdom, not weakness.
The Drive Home and a Final Look at the Casino
Leaving downtown Milwaukee was easy. As soon as we entered the highway and headed south, we drove right past the Potawatomi Casino one last time. I glanced over at it as we accelerated onto the interstate. It felt like a missed opportunity for about three seconds, and then we settled into the drive home.
We took 294 around Chicago instead of cutting through downtown. Typical slowdowns, nothing dramatic. Elena tried to nap and just relax during the first half of the drive. Her body was sore and tired, and she had definitely earned a little rest.
We stopped at the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis for gas, restrooms, and dinner. I paid $3.09 per gallon for convenience instead of exiting for cheaper gas. Easy off, easy on felt worth the premium.
Susie grabbed a gyro. Elena and I went to McDonald’s, where I secured my first Shamrock Shake of the year. That Oasis stretches over the highway, and you can sit by the windows watching traffic roll underneath you. It is oddly calming.
After our short break, traffic had cleared, and we were moving at normal speeds again. That is when reality set in. Our estimated arrival time back home was around 9:30, which is past Elena’s normal bedtime. So instead of sleeping the rest of the way, she pulled out her Chromebook and started working on homework in the passenger seat. Her school was one of the few that did not close for Presidents Day.
We left Milwaukee in 55-degree sunshine and saw 64 degrees near Chicago just before sunset. When we pulled into our driveway in Grand Rapids, it was mid 40’s. The snow had melted enough to reveal grass and the damage the very unwelcome moles had done under the snow.
Back to real life.
Elena was sore and exhausted, but still had to finish up schoolwork before finally crashing for the night. My headache stayed mostly gone, just a faint reminder during the drive that I am not twenty-five anymore.
We went to Milwaukee for volleyball. We left with a championship. And sometimes the smartest bet you make is the one you never place.