Vegas Invasion

Now that I’m in Las Vegas I can take a break from the blog, because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Well, not on this trip. It wouldn’t be an invasion if I didn’t tell all. I made it here later in the evening. The drive was all new scenery to me out in the Arizona desert. Although it was night the highlight of the drive was crossing the Hoover Dam as I entered Nevada. It is an impressive site, which I’m sure it’s even more impressive by daylight, but I’ll be back there before moving on.

With a new state that means new hosts. I’m staying with a retired couple, Carl and Heide who are both in their 60s. The connection this time is one of my mom’s quilting friends, Judy, who got me in touch with Heidie. Judy and Heide worked together for about 30 years in Michigan. Carl was raised in Monterey, CA and has been in Las Vegas for 42 years where he was in construction and truck driving. Heide has been in Las Vegas for about 11 years. The two of them wed five years ago. Both of them are rock hounds and met at a club. So one of the first things when I got Carl smoothed out a piece of quartz for me, it almost looks like a perfect ice cube.
They also mentioned the house rules, be sure to wear slippers in the house, put the toilet seat down, I don’t pay for anything while I’m here, and I make myself at home. I guess I can follow those rules pretty easy, nothing too difficult.

The question of the week, who is the first person to see me in three different states on the trip? DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!! It’s my brother Adam. He saw me the first week in Madison, WI, then I saw him a few weeks ago in New York City, and now here in Las Vegas. We also had something to celebrate, his engagement to Kimmie. My older brother is gonna get married! I’m pretty excited! But, it makes me feel kind of old. I spent the night with Adam, Kimmie, and her friend Brendan. We hopped from the Luxor, to Mandalay Bay, to New York New York. Even though I was clueless how it worked, I was able to valet the invasion mobile as well. Carl had given me a few dollars to put into the slot machines, or as Adam and Kimmie call them the “reverse ATMs”. It was a celebration and I’ll be able to see him again before heading out. I thought I might get to experience a wedding on the trip, but I didn’t think that it would be my own brother’s wedding! Cool.

After a late night when I was already exhausted I found myself cruising on The Strip in the invasion mobile. It was 2am and I was checking out the scene, once again not believing all the places this trip has shown me. It was a relaxing drive with some more good music. One of my favorite songs on the radio currently is “World” eem by Five For Fighting. I was thinking about the lyrics of that song lately. The song that came on the radio was the one by John Mayer that says, “Waiting on the world to change.” And earlier that day I got a $1 bill from back home, which was asked to be dropped into a Salvation Army bucket. So all of these things were in my mind. I was at an intersection where I was going to turn around and head the other way. Along the curb right next to the driver side there was a homeless guy with a cardboard sign, so I started rolling up my window. But then I saw it wasn’t asking for money, it was asking for food. Well, my car was packed with food. Everyone I just met in Phoenix sent some food with me on the road and my mom sent me some. The only thing in reach was a tub of Chex mix that my mom sent. I rolled my window back down and handed it to him. I told myself it’s time to start doing more good deeds. Now if he was aking for money that would be different. I wouldn’t know where the money is going. But food, that’s essential to life. And there is way more food in my car for me to eat on the road before it goes stale. If there is anything that’s important to share it’s food. And for some reason I was very moved for that moment. One can’t wait for the world to change.