As I sit in our Golden Nugget hotel room waiting to attend another in my wife's long line of (big) family reunion celebrations tonight (not to be outdone, my small side has them, too -- they're just called Christmas), I recall when I first came to Las Vegas...
Dad, who returned to the lives of his second set of sons around the start of the 70's, always wanted to go back to Las Vegas. I believe the old man had been there during the 60's, right before Howard Hughes started playing Monopoly and buying hotels (with real properties) on The Strip. And in the summer of 1975 he came looking for a trip co-pilot to help him with the driving portion of his excursion.
This post has been moved and updated to my current blog, which can be found here.
This post has been moved and updated to my current blog, which can be found here.
Classic! But...what happened IN Vegas? You're not going to shy away with that old 'what happens in Vegas' line, are you? 8-)
ReplyDeleteOutside of that damn Vega conkin' out in the heat when we visited Boulder Dam, I don't remember much that happened in between the drive there and back. Then again, I had just turned 21 so alcohol-induced amnesia could be the culprit there. I think I'd have had to interview the strippers to find out what dear old Dad did :-P .
ReplyDeleteThanks, Naomi.
Fascinating stuff. What an experience to be sure. My wife visited Vegas during her life in the US, and adores it. We had a programme on UK TV a few weeks back which really delved in to Vegas and I came away even more impressed. Must have been a remarkable sight to see Vegas after so much darkness.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great reunion.
Ah yes, the darkness in our lives. Lit and fig. Great story, thanks. Ever think of an Ebook.
ReplyDeleteEloquently written my friend. Your recollections were beautifully composed and I felt like I lived it. Your nostalgia for the past, while different from my own, is oddly familiar having lived many similar experiences. I especially loved your description of the dark highway with nothing but two headlights between you and the pure darkness.
ReplyDeleteAll the best with your family reunion. May you survive another.
Wow...reminds me of when the family and I drove all the way across country in a beat up car when I was seven years old. What memories that brings back!
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ReplyDeleteWhen was your wife in LV, my friend? The reunion turned out very well. Thank you, Steve, for asking and your comment.
ReplyDeleteVery kind, Herb. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your kind words, SFF. I hope to read about your similar experiences, my friend.
ReplyDeleteWelcome IC. Being enclosed in a moving vehicle with your family for hours at a time can be something special. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written (as always!). I love your "memory" posts. I shared this with my husband (he hasn't read it yet but said, "ah, the nugget" when I told him about it) as he has a longstanding love of Las Vegas and goes mulitple times/year. Me, I avoid it like the plague but, coincidentally, I was there last month but spent all of my time on Nellis AFB and in the mountains. You may recall that I prefer the more tropical climes but the environment around Las Vegas is striking and beautiful; though certainly ominous after dark (it's not the middle of nowhere but I can see it from here). Your description of a less populated time took me straight back to all my experiences with true dark.
ReplyDeleteLas Vegas is one very unique place (my in-laws when they were still with us went multiple times a year, too). The surrounding mountains and deserts are quite beautiful, as well. If you ever write about your times visiting the place, or those experiences with true dark, I'll be quite interested in reading. Thanks very much for your kind words and wonderful comment, Rachel.
ReplyDeleteI just love your family stories! Between you and PCN, it's the most fun I have on the Internet. Ha! Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Jen.
ReplyDeleteA family reunion in Vegas? Brian likes the way Lady Leopard's family thinks! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen my family lived at Edwards AFB, there was a long stretch of one of those dark desert roads leading into the base from Rosamund. The parents were usually more than a little tense when the teenagers drove themselves out to Lancaster for an evening.
Thanks for another wonderful post taking us down your memory lane, Michael!
I'm not surprised, since your family was stationed at Edwards AFB, you would know about those dark, desert roads. The wife's family sure does pick some great sites for their reunions. Thank you for your generous comment, Christine.
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