Leaving Las Vegas

16 years ago, I went to Las Vegas. At that time, I was in the middle of getting divorced. I remember standing on the balcony of the room, looking out over the Strip and thinking I could go home, pack the dogs and a few things in the car and drive back and start a new life in Las Vegas. It was one of those times in life when the crossroads, intersections, and possibilities seem particularly clear. I didn't move to Las Vegas.

Now 16 years later, I returned to Las Vegas to attend a conference. It was my first professional conference. Las Vegas is still surreal - oversized, superficial, disposable. Full of flashing lights and crowds, dreams and desperation. Some things have changed - when one wins at a slot machine, the money doesn't come tumbling out. I missed that sound. There are more hotels - bigger and flasher. Treasure Island which seemed so big years ago, appeared small this time.

Las Vegas has loomed large in my imagination for a long time. I have often told people that everyone should go there at least once. But now, I'm not so sure. After this trip, Las Vegas doesn't seem to loom so large. This morning, I had a sense of feeling more whole, as though all those years ago, without realizing it, I had left a bit of myself in Las Vegas. By returning, I was able to reclaim that part of me and bring it home.

I have left Las Vegas. Fortunately, I didn't have to drink myself to death to do it. There were no flying purple bats, no fear and loathing. Mr R is glad I've gotten Las Vegas out of my system.

Urban Adventures

Today, Mr R and I walked most of the way across the new floating bridge and back. We didn't make it all the way across and back for the full 10k. The walk started a bit late and everyone had to be off the bridge by 9:30 so we didn't have a full two hours. And there were 13,000 people so it was a bit slow going for the first mile or so.

We weren't quite to the first mile when the first of the runners heading back passed us.

I think we made it past the 2 mile mark before we turned around and headed back to the finish. It was cold and windy out on the mid span. On the way back, I entered into my geeky meets grumpy phase. It happens when I have been walking for a long time and I suddenly feel I am on a forced march and all I want to do is sit down but I have to keep moving.

We made it back to the finish, got on the train bound for Capitol Hill, and had breakfast. French toast seemed to take care of the grumpies!  On the way back, we decided not to go back on to the bridge for the rest of the opening festivities. The line for the shuttle buses to the bridge was quite long.

It felt so good to get home and take my shoes off. Later Mr R will head off to the soccer match. I am going to stay home.

I am glad we did the walk on the bridge. It was fun to be out there before the cars. I have to have a few once in a lifetime experiences.