What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas... or So They Say
Happy New Year!
2020 was somethin’ wasn’t it?! Although I’ve heard so many say that it was the worst year of their lives, I have chosen to find a silver lining. For example, we had more “family time” together, my husband no longer traveled out of state for work, our daughter got engaged, and our son was able to have some freedom in his senior year of college. True, there were many tragedies, but I can’t help but wonder if the drama behind some of those hardships was the result of the over-exaggeration media and social media? Hmmm….
One thing that was difficult for me this past year was not being able to spend time with friends. Did you feel that way too? And I really missed being with my girlfriends. Sure, we “zoomed”. We talked on the phone. We texted. But there is nothing like spending one on one, face to face, quality time with one another— and I had very little of that in 2020.
One of the first things that I want to plan in 2021 is our annual girls weekend with Sydney, Charlie, and Mallory. The four of us were supposed to go to Sydney’s cabin in Tahoe, but had to cancel due to the pandemic. Which brings me to talk about Nevada, our featured state this week.
Here’s My Story about Las Vegas
Nevada (note: it’s pronounced Nev-vaaaaa-da, not Nev-ahhhhh-da!), is a state with some very interesting cities. This week in Let’s Go I write about Carson City and Las Vegas, two Nevada cities at opposite ends of the spectrum. Las Vegas is totally different from any of its sibling cities in Nevada. For that matter, it’s different than any other city, period!
“Sin City”, as it’s lustfully known, can be just that if you partake in all the stuff that labels it as sinful. Which is exactly why I freaked out when my then-21-year-old daughter Lex told me she was going there for spring break. When does a mother not inject her worry and concern into her adult child’s life? Rhetorical question of course!
Surprisingly, I bit my tongue...until she told me that her friend (who, at 5’10”, blonde, and fun-lovin is Lex’s mirror image) bailed at the last minute and wasn't going, and Lex was looking for someone to go with her. I raised my hand as high as I could and screamed, “PICK ME, PICK ME!” (It was just too difficult to bite my tongue any longer. The words were bubbling up inside like a hot cauldron!)
My darling daughter said okay. I was thrilled!
So I bought my own plane ticket to the fabulous city with lights, fountains, blackjack tables, and Donny and Marie. What?! Who would’ve known that they were still around? Not only still around, but still enough of an act to attract an audience. Wow!
The Bad
Our girls weekend started out in the most horrendous hotel (the name shall remain unspoken) that I have ever seen. We got in at one a.m., and had to wait two hours before we got into our first room. Yes, first room. It was so smoke-filled that I couldn’t breathe. Our second room wasn’t much better. By our third room, I gave up. That room was filled with smoke, but from pot rather than cigarettes. It could have been filled with lemon blossom smoke and it would have been too much for me. To think we even fell asleep is beyond me.
Pride Goeth Before a Fall
We spent our first day at the pool, and whoa! Raise your hand if you’ve ever been poolside at a Vegas hotel on spring break. OK, I see not many of you. I’m here to tell you that I’m not some young, hot babe like my Lex, but somehow I was hit on equally the same. Of course, I took it as I must be some MILF-looking character. Patting myself on the back for keeping myself in decent shape and choosing the right fake eyelashes. For a quick second, I really thought I was one hot mama. Sitting on the edge of the pool, drink in hand, wearing a cute bikini, cool shades (mostly to hide the wrinkles), singing all the lyrics to the bangin’ tunes, and laughing it up with all the 20-somethings. I was convinced I had it goin’ on. Then, sadly, I realized everyone was drunk as hell. Dang it! What was that? Oh. It was the sound of my bubble popping.
The Good
As I write this blog nearly six years later, I chose to focus on the great things about that trip (the hotel wasn’t one of them). It was an adventure for sure, but so memorable because I made a new friend. Yep. It turns out that my daughter can also be my girlfriend. The five years between her being 16 and her being 21 made a huge difference.
That's what I’m going to do on this New Year’s Day. I’m going to wave bye-bye to 2020 and welcome 2021 with open arms. I am hopeful for the future. I will keep the good things that happened in 2020 at the forefront of my mind because it reminds me that life is good. Every year is different. Good and bad. Find the good.
May you find peace, health, happiness, and new girlfriends in the new year.
I love that you were with me today. See you next week!
XO,
Loopie
