As I awoke on the morning of April 2, 2003, I knew this wasn't going to be a regular day for me. I would be awake for nearly 23 hours before I would hit the sack again.

As the hours passed by during my hurried day, I envisioned the trip to Las Vegas with a lot of excitement and anticipation. This would be the greatest trip of the year for me, as I would be able to see folks I had not seen in over 30 years.

Arriving home at 3 p.m., I readied myself for the drive to Metro Airport in Detroit. It was to be my first flight on Southwest in over 25 years. I am impressed with the airline because they do everything they can to hold costs down for their passengers.

We left Detroit at 6:35 p.m. and arrived in Chicago for a short stop while they took on new crew and passengers. Then, it was off to Kansas City, where I was met at the gate by one of the greatest midget wrestlers this business has seen, Roger Littlebrook.

He was waiting with open arms as I rounded the corner after deplaning and met me with the biggest handshake that I have had in a while. Roger and Little Kato had made the journey from St. Joseph to meet with me during the hour layover I had.

We sat and sipped on coffee while we spoke about the old days and what they meant to both of us. We also spoke of the current state of the business and how each other's families are doing.

Suddenly, Roger remembered the six-man tag team match we had in Wichita, Kansas at the Century II Auditorium. He had to remind me that he was the one that handed my team the defeat for the event. He even remembered getting the snot knocked out of him by Angus.

I reminded him that he was retired now, and that he should take that part of his life and live it to it's fullest. He agreed and stopped talking about that night.

I glanced at my watch and it was nearing 9:15, and it was near my time of departure for Las Vegas. We said our regrets and bid each other so long for now, and then we parted ways. I was airborne at 9:30 for the three-hour flight.

I grabbed my laptop and began to make notes on the stop and all the things that we talked about. Littlebrook is a great friend that I am happy to have known. Even though we had our differences in the ring, he still impresses me as a total gentleman to this day.

I arrived in Las Vegas at 10:40, and, after a change in luggage pickup points, I was on my way to the Plaza Hotel on Fremont and Main downtown. As the limo pulled up to the front of the building, I glanced back behind me, and the Fremont Street Experience was going on with the overhead lights screaming out. The sound of rock and roll music was blaring so loud, it could be heard from nearly a block away.

I went to my suite and met with Dr. David Ring to begin planning out the itinerary for the next few days. David had arrived in from his home in Cleveland earlier in the day and had joined Mr. Karate for a light evening meal downstairs.

It was nearing 12 midnight when I said to myself that I was certain that my body had experienced enough for one day and needed something in my stomach. I met Chief Paul Farber, and we went to the Las Vegas Club across Main Street to get some of their famous $2.99 Steak and Egg breakfast.

As I glanced at my watch crossing Main Street to return to the Plaza, it said that it was 4:30 East Coast Time. I had been awake for almost 24 hours straight. I returned to my suite, where I hit the huge king sized bed and crashed until the sunlight hit my eyes and woke me at 8 a.m. the next morning.

To be continued....

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers