What Happens in Las Vegas... 

I love my Mom...and she loves the slot machines. Yep...I think that it's safe to say that watching those spinning reels go round and round is one of life's great pleasures for her. Mom lives in central California and regularly goes to a Chumash Indian casino near Santa Ynez. They have a nice big "motor coach" that comes to her town...loads up with patrons...and delivers them to the casino in comfort.  Ditto for a return home after a day of slot machine mania. She loves it and...believe it or don't...she wins MUCH more often than not!

I hadn't seen my Mom in over a year! Anneke and I decided that we would give my Mom a belated Mother's Day treat and fly her to Las Vegas for a couple of days. The plan was that I would meet her there...alone...and she and I would have some time together to catch up. I reserved us a suite at the Luxor...made the air arrangements...and on the appointed day...met Mom in the baggage claim at McCarran. We had a WONDERFUL time together...just me and my Mom! She gambled her heart out, but the casino gods weren't on her side this trip...surprise...surprise!

OK...Let me go on record stating that casino gambling isn't high on my list of enjoyable activities. I've been to Las Vegas probably half a dozen times in my lifetime, and I STILL don't get it!  What's wrong with me...

"Las Vegas" has a popular ad campaign showing people having a great time visiting this city. They're all well-dressed, laughing, socializing...you know...kind of NORMAL.  Where were THESE people last week? I think that EVERY single smoker left in America was in Las Vegas. Don't these people read the Surgeon General's reports? Smiles...I didn't see many. Well-dressed...I did see ONE patron with a CLEAN baseball cap (worn backwards of course!) Laughing and socializing...nope. Most people looked depressed and averted making any eye contact!

The way this town is exploding with growth, it must be just me. How could all these new hotels...busy airport...and fleets of taxi cabs exist without millions and millions of people lining up to give their money away?

This trip with my Mom wasn't a gamble for me. It was an investment...a solid investment of time. I'll forever cherish those few days I spent with my Mom in Las Vegas...doing something that SHE enjoys for once...alone...just the two of us. I had a PERFECT time...