On the East Coast, the Gaming Emporium was the center of the chip universe. It was a very sad day when I visited the store the day before the November AC chapter meeting, only to find the store had closed a couple of days earlier. The store was empty except for a few empty display cases and a vending machine. I stared into the empty store front in disbelief for a good 10 minutes before I could gather my wits and walk on. The chip universe had collapsed. Still more important, was that Bob Mera was in a hospital in Philadelphia to receive a life saving operation. I spoke to him several times through out his illness. He was always upbeat and positive. I was amazed when he was selling out his inventory at incredible discounts. He said that was so he could get the store going again as soon as possible once he regained his health. I will always have fond memories of Bob, his family (who always helped out in the store) and the Gaming Emporium.

As 1999 comes to an end, I will happy to see it go. This was a very bad year for me and my family ... I attended more funerals and visited more friends in the hospital then in the past 10 years. As I toast in the New Year I will take a sip in rememberence of Bob and all the others that I will miss so dearly who passed away in 1999.