What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas

Living in Las Vegas gives us the opportunity to visit the strip whenever we want to.  We decided to go to Bellagio to their botanical garden to see the Christmas display.  If you have never been there you should go it is so beautiful.  While parking the car we started talking about other trips to the strip with and without our kids.  Boy did it bring back some memories.

I remember our first trip to Las Vegas.  My husband asked me what I wanted to do.  I told him that I would like to see the strip.  We got into the car and headed to the strip.  I was so excited just like a kid getting ready to go to Disney Land.  As we approached the strip I could see all the lights and my excitement grew.  As we reached the strip my husband began talking about each casino that we past.  I kept thinking “which one are we going to stop at”.  We drove to the end and he turned around and proceeded to drive back down the strip once again talking about each casino.  As we approached the end of the strip I realized that he wasn’t going to stop and any casino.  As soon as we reached the end of the strip he turns and looks at me and says “so that was the strip, now what would you like to do?”.  I was so surprised I just sat there looking at him and thinking “are you kidding me”, he wasn’t kidding.  When we got home I was asked by many friends how I liked Las Vegas and did I see the strip.  I answered “Yes I did see the strip.  My husband drove up one side and then to ensure that I did not miss anything he drove back down the other side”. 

Shortly after moving here we took our kids to the Rio for dinner at the buffet.  While enjoying a wonderful dinner together my youngest daughter commented that she could see the cocktail waitresses butt.  I quickly replied that it was her uniform and tried to distract her with the dessert counter.  The table across from us had ordered drinks throughout the evening and at one point my daughter had had enough of seeing the cocktail waitresses butt.  Before I could stop her she tapped the waitresses butt, the waitress sprang around as though she was ready to go ninja on who ever touched her.  You can just imagine her surprise when she discovered it was a little girl.  My daughter looked the waitress right in the eye and said “We are tired of looking at your butt, can you please not so us your butt anymore?”.  We were all speechless.  As the meal progressed the waitress did not return and the table did not get any more drinks.

Another time we were at the Excalibur with my sister, brother-in-law and their two boys.  We decided to walk around the strip.  One of the kids had won a whoopee cushion playing one of the games and my husband asks to borrow it.  He blows it up and puts it behind his back.  As we walk down the strip whenever someone would approach us he would wait just until they were close enough to hear and then he would let some of the air out.  The reaction he got was priceless.  It was so hard to walk along with a straight face.  Later that night we laughed until we all had tears rolling down our faces. 

I have many more memories but I just wanted to share a few that really stick in my mind.  All I can say is not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 

Who Am I?

When we come into this world we are given a name.  For most of us the name that we are given is what we are called, unless you come from a large family like I did and then you are called every name that your mom can think of including the pets until she just refers to you as “whatever your name is”.   All through school we are called by our names and we think nothing of it because we figure that is who we are… until the day that we get married.

 In the beginning we are so flattered to be called “So and So’s wife” or even “Mrs. So and So” because we are so in love that we think that it’s an honor and after all we are now “So and So’s wife” or “Mrs. So and So” that we think nothing of it when people can’t remember our first name.   But soon this all goes away because we start having children and then we are called “So and So’s mom”.  Once again in the beginning you are so thrilled because who wouldn’t want to be called “So and So’s mom”, we gave birth to this individual so we deserve to be called their mom, what an honor.  It’s a like a reward for the hours of labor that we went through.  In reality we actually deserve to be placed on the shoulder of some young hot guys and carried through the streets with people singing our praises after all that we went through to give birth to this person.  As time goes on we start thinking “wait I have a name, why won’t people use it?”. 

We continue on for many years being called “So and So’s wife” or “So and So’s mom” that we start to wonder OMG, who am I.  Once in a while we have to look at our driver’s license to see what our real name is because it has been so long since anyone has called us by that name that we soon forget.  Our children call us mom and our husbands call us honey, babe, or old lady (who thought that this was an appropriate name for any woman?  They should be horse whipped). 

Before you know it your children have moved out and now you are faced with the question of “who am I”.  For some women who are trying to figure out who we are they turn to plastic surgery, which of course is fine, others wear their gray hair and wrinkles as though they are a badge of honor all the while thinking “I earned these so I’m wearing them proud” and then there are those who are content to just get by while trying to figure out who they are.  I tend to fit in the category of being content while trying to figure out who I am.  Of course we do what we can to still look younger but let’s face it, we aren’t fooling anyone.  My doctor recently referred to my correct age and I jokingly said “no, I’m 29” he then said that I need help (maybe I should get a female doctor as she would understand).

In this journey of trying to figure out who I am and what is my purpose I hope to explore as many aspects of this thing people refer to as “middle age”.  What does it all mean, really?  I personally think that I’m just getting started and I hope that you all can join me in this journey.