From Backroads to Broadway

Picture it: Carrollton, Texas — May/June 2011. We’re at the high school graduation party of our young friend Marissa Jennings, hosted by her mom Becky. We show up on a Sunday afternoon to give Marissa her graduation present, chat with her about her future plans, have some of Becky’s always delicious food, and visit with the rest of the Jennings family.

Ron and I are chatting with Marissa when he suddenly blurts out “Marissa — you know what would be great? Let’s go to Vegas when you turn 21!” Marissa immediately becomes enthusiastic: “Oh Uncle Ron, that would be great!” — and I stand there with a rueful smile glued to my face.

After we left, we stood on the front porch for a minute; Ron looked at me and asked “What did I just do?” — and I replied “You committed us to going to Las Vegas. In August 2014. Get ready.” And you know what? We had a GREAT time. We saw “The Beatles’ ‘Love’” by Cirque du Soleil (including VIP passes that took us backstage to observe their preparation for the show), ate delicious food; bought Marissa adult beverages in honor of turning 21; toured the Venetian and saw some incredible artwork; had photos taken at the iconic Las Vegas sign; rode the High Roller Ferris wheel; took a coach tour led by a funny, outgoing, sassy former showgirl; and snuck 15-year-old Jonathan into a downtown Vegas casino until we were busted and had to leave (but not until Becky won some money). All in all, it was a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday for our wonderful young friend!

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Thinking about how we ended up in Las Vegas, it would be easy to blame ANOTHER random comment made during a cheerful celebration regarding Marissa’s plans after graduation.

As always, the celebratory feast was delicious! Becky, an avid fan of Food Network, has a knack for serving amazing bites; so, while we sat there talking with Marissa about her plans for the future, inspiration struck me like a Joan Crawford reality check!

I thought that suggesting a group trip to Las Vegas for her 21st birthday seemed like a fun idea — and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Kirk rolling his eyes and agreeing to the madcap idea!

See, I’ve always been attracted to the bright lights, pulsing sounds, and questionable characters that operate under the neon canopy. So Las Vegas was definitely the flame to my moth-like nature……

I was, however, surprised by Marissa’s immediate excitement and enthusiasm at the idea!

Having arranged our flights, Kirk spearheaded our plans. Adding a special surprise on our arrival in Las Vegas, we were chauffeured to our hotel in a sleek, black stretch limo cruising through the streets while giggling and tee-heeing throughout the entire drive! I really couldn’t guess who got the biggest kick out of that ride but it really was the perfect way to start our adventure…..great job, honey!

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Watching the casinos whip past us, I remember being surprised at how beautiful the Spring Mountains looked in the distance. Admittedly, I’m horrible with geography…..unless a state is caressing the border of Oklahoma or is shaped like a phallic symbol, I rarely take notice! So, my surprise was natural and only mildly embarrassing.

Stowing our luggage in our rooms, we went almost immediately downstairs. I wish I could remember the name of the Tex-Mex restaurant we ate at, but that’s just ONE of the benefits of being 10 (+) years older than I was then. Just you wait till I start taking advantage of the OTHER benefits of aging (Y’all better start praying for Kirk now!).

While I don’t drink much, I am always happy to celebrate special occasions. When the margaritas hit the table, I could hardly wait for a cheerful toast and a long slow sip of the frozen goodness! Marissa’s younger brother Jonathan joined us in the celebration, enjoying all the best bits he was legally allowed. Becky happily doted on them both as the family enjoyed the beginning of our weekend escapade!

That evening after dinner we took a tram to the Bellagio; crisscrossing through hallways of the grand hotel, we quickly walked outside. Being a newbie, I kept trying to go back inside for another look-see at the botanical garden or the Chihuly glasswork installed over our heads. Kirk and Becky seemed to be ready for my antsy behavior, promising we had gotten there “right on time”. Marissa and Jonathan, looking like seasoned veterans in the “come, go with me” game, were already standing near a stanchion, preparing for their “ah ha” moment. It didn’t take long…..by the time the music ended and the crowd to the choreographed water show had dispersed, I was willing to admit that yet again, they were right.

***Maybe someday I’ll grow up to be a patient and understanding adult…….but please don’t count those particular chickens too soon!

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After a night of I can’t really remember what (a good sign of a fun vacation, no?) we met our very first ever tour guide (Sherry) for her Vegas 101 class. We weren’t sure what to expect, but after a quick introduction, the former showgirl took our group of 50-somethings around town! I say 50-somethings only as the average age. Thanks to Marissa and Jonathan, they brought it down from a modest 68. Not that anyone in our group was complaining but even I will admit that sometimes 68 isn’t the best number when dealing with a group…..

Back on track, after rambling down Las Vegas Boulevard, Sherry happily doled out lots of fun stories about the casinos, the owners, and especially some of the performers. After her talk, I could only wish to have witnessed the spectacle that was Liberace when he was at the top of his game.

As we rounded one particular corner, she began reminding us that our very first stop would be the most iconic stop on the tour. Allowing us time to get out and take selfies, we were quick on the trigger as no one in our group wanted to be left behind. I remember some of the more seasoned members of our group barely getting off the bus before beginning the hike back up the steps. Now if I can only find where we put ANY of those pictures….

Old Las Vegas spread out before us like Burt Reynolds in Cosmopolitan. Grinning in its imperfection, this older area of the city was my favorite to explore! The classic slot machines, along with the lingering hint of cigarette smoke, whiskey, and whispered promises of a JACKPOT!, created an atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else on earth.

Ultimately it was the Golden Nugget Casino that we returned to once our tour had ended.

See, while we were walking through the Golden Nugget we spotted a room filled with 25-cent slot machines! As an aside, my mom admitted to me years earlier that she and Dad had begun going to the casinos in Oklahoma to play the slots back in the day. She would always smile and tell me how much she had enjoyed just sitting there playing the nickel slots with him all day. Nickel slots? Yep! She was never one to waste money, but she would allow herself one bit of silly expense every now and then.

After everyone sat down in front of a slot machine while Jonathan (maturely) found a spot off to the side (remember, he was underage), we began dropping quarters into the bellies of our intended beasts. This did not last long…..I think Becky was the only one who won more than $2 and I learned gambling wasn’t my “thing,” but everyone seemed to have a good time regardless.

After collecting our senses, we stopped for a quick bite, then spent a bit more time cruising in and out of the classic casinos while the background sounds of jackpot sirens, happy screeching, and quarters tinkling in the metal slot trays accompanied us!

Filling our shopping bags with loot from the souvenir shops, we hopped in a taxi and headed back to our hotel before a simple dinner and a final excursion for the day.

It’s at this point that I will admit to a bit of faulty recollection. At about this stage of the trip we took a slight detour, planning to take a peek over the rooftops of the strip via the High Roller.

The plan was for us to be in mid-rotation as the sun was setting because well, I do love the nightlife, and like to, you know, boogie. So there we were, slowly creeping our way through the line when it dawned on me. We were going to be too early. The obsessive person in me was ready for a meltdown. Because, well, you know……I am a drama queen! But Kirk assured me that we would okay and everyone would still have a good time.

Thankfully, as the lumbering pod carried us into the air, we crested just as the sun dropped behind Spring Mountain, turning the sky into a watercolor of yellow, orange, and red. Almost as if on cue, the vibrant neon colors of the town took over the night as the city began pulsating with a certain “come hither” look……

Feet firmly back on land, we swished our way back to the hotel, very happy and content with our mini-adventure!

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The following day, having agreed on our choice of entertainment while we were in the planning stages, Becky and Kirk still had another surprise up their sleeves. Having arranged for a backstage tour of the Cirque show “The Beatles LOVE”, it was fun to catch a glimpse behind the curtain with Marissa and Jonathan.

I remember walking around, wondering what sort of scenes we might be seeing later….by the time we saw the VW Beetle hanging there, dissected across the wall, I stopped trying to imagine it. Attempting to adopt Kirk’s “que sera sera” attitude, I waited with high hopes and massive impatience for showtime!

The venue was very cozy. Sitting in the round, the entire audience had a very intimate view of the performers as they danced, tumbled, and flew through the air. When the soundtrack began, the grainy, lo-fi quality of the recovered studio tapes added an authentically “classic” vibe. This show was the first of its kind for Cirque and it took a little getting used to not having live performers singing from the wings of the stage.

As the costumed performers interpreted the music while representing several of the characters in the band’s lyrical world…..vibrant and whimsical, the story unfolded in a kaleidoscope of chaos. While enjoying their psychedelic world, the moment I waited for crept up on us.

When the lyrics to “A Day in the Life” began, the mood on the set became much more subdued. As the VW Beetle surged across the stage, impacting a lone woman as she crossed the imaginary street, I remembered one of my childhood friends telling me the story of how John Lennon’s mother had died. As the performers separated from their huddle within the vehicle, the Beetle shattered, leaving the woman lying on the ground; the performers slowly gathered to grieve and the stage cleared — leaving the child holding her hand.

The remainder of the production was easy for our small group to enjoy. And even though this show was less acrobatic, it had enough to keep everyone glancing upwards in case someone was about to drop into our laps on a ribbon of silk!

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Standing there wiping the glitter from my face in the Las Vegas airport the next morning while waiting for our flight home, I was happy to have checked that off my bucket list (a list that had never existed until it actually became a “thing”).

Even as we waited to be herded onto our flight, Kirk and I were glad to have celebrated Marissa’s 21st birthday in a way we will all remember into our golden years…..or until someone deletes his Facebook page and is compelled to search high and low for photographic reminders of the adventure.