Bright Lights, Big City...Las Vegas

I have had a Bucket List for years. This past year I checked off  a huge chunk of desires.  It was a busy, action packed year. I think I experienced more new adventures  in 2011-2012 than any other previous year. It has been fun. Everything I did was bigger and better than I had imagined....and I 'imagine' with great gusto.

While moving Melodi to California, we stopped at Las Vegas. Visiting Vegas has been in the top 10 for about 20 years. It was everything I imagined, times 100.

When we arrived in Nevada it was beginning to get dark. I could see Las Vegas coming from miles away. We were all tired, as the bright lights kept getting closer, our energy perked up for awhile. We drove down through the middle of the city on a Saturday night in a U Haul and a 91 Mercury. No one was scared of us. People walked out in front of our vehicles, expecting us to stop. Some people seem oblivious that we were even there. We were gawking at everything and everyone we saw. 

Melodi was driving the car. One policeman almost hit her twice in less than a minute. First on the left side as he whipped into traffic and then on the right as he cut her off in the midst of 6 lanes of traffic. I was stomping my imaginary break while Melodi was hoping he hit her. That would have been a new car for us. I never thought about that. All I could see was Melodi hurt.

We saw people dressed in all manner of fashion. Some in thousand dollar outfits, others in casual or grubby clothes. Anything and everything was appropriate. Musicians played on the sidewalks. People would stop and listen, some danced. It was magical to say the least. I could not wait to see the Bellagio. That has been the reason I wanted to go to Las Vegas. 

The next morning we woke up fairly early, ate breakfast and took a taxi to the Bellagio. Our day began there. It is bigger than life. Las Vegas is bigger than life. The city is located in the middle of the desert, surrounded by mountains having nothing in common with its surroundings except the temperature. It was 105 degrees that day.  There is a party going on 7 days a week,  24 hours a day. No invitation needed. 

We gambled at the Bellagio. Melodi won $80 on the second machine she tried. Tommy won and lost. I lost. I couldn't keep my mind on gambling. I was afraid I would miss something.  

I am a big fan of Oceans 11. I kept thinking in my mind, where I was in relation to the movie.  My muse refused to leave the Bellagio. I think she stayed on in Vegas for about 3 days before we finally reconnected. I can't wait to write about what all she did, if and when she tells me. 

                                      
We walked the Miracle Mile and it lived up to it's name. I was thankful for the air conditioning. 105 is too hot for me, no matter where I am. We darted in and out of Casino's, Malls, tourist shops and restaurants. Up escalators and down marble steps.  We walked among glass chandeliers hanging from gold ceilings. Most of the time what we were seeing was surreal. A completely different life than I am used to living.

I took so many photos of places and things I will probably never see again. However, I will never forget the feeling of being part of a life where I really do not belong. It was fun. I think I may have experienced the same feeling Cinderella felt when she went to the ball.

There was one thing I was not leaving Vegas until I had , a 'hookers card'. The guys at work used to tell me about walking down the streets and being handed 'cards'. I found all sorts on the sidewalk. I stopped to get my share for my scrapbooks, when Tommy noticed I was gone. He came back to see what I was doing. When I showed him my proudest Vegas possessions, he just shook his head and walked off.  The only thing I did not do in Vegas, that was on my list, was to get remarried to Tommy by an Elvis impersonator.  That can wait until next year. After all, I always need something to look forward to.....besides what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.  That is a good thing....a very good thing.