The Gambler

As a kid, he climbed the highest trees walked to the end of thin, jouncing branches grinning, while those below him shook with fear His teen years were taken up with his 'machine' whose engine he souped up to play 'chicken' racing to the edge of cliffs, rebel without a cause In his 20's and 30's, he hit the casinos nightly beating the house just often enough to stay ahead of the payments on all four of his cars At 50, he took up bungee jumping entering tournaments, spending six months in the hospital that year, two months in rehab Turning 60, he refused to wear a mask A matter of principle, he told me His principles landed him in the hospital again He went from ventilator to grave in four days