A Blast from the Past

Very hard to photograph at night, with a poor little
cell phone.  But you get the idea. (Look for the family photo
hidden within this picture).

Las Vegas - Old School

A week ago I joined the "kids" for a walk down memory lane.  I helped them clean out their father's house in Las Vegas, following his recent death, and we found so much history and memorabilia from the life and times of their father, grandfather and great-grandfather, as well as other grandparents and relatives.  One of the bonuses to cleaning out houses of people who don't throw anything away, is finding treasures and riches beyond measure.  A true inheritance.

Discovering their history - while wearing Grandma's pearls.

Snapshot Grandpa took, we assume, during a WWII USO tour.
Ah...Bing.

It turned out to be a souvenir edition, but still fascinating.

We don't know which family member this is...but what a great photo!

In a prior life I did live, and teach, in Las Vegas for three years.  During that time we attended many stage shows, visited area attractions that were family friendly, and worked regular jobs.  Christine started school there, while Jeff attended a great pre-school program.  Grandma and Grandpa also lived there.

We found this old photo, which I had taken YEARS ago.
This is part of the downtown area.

Going through cards, letters and photos last weekend brought back so many memories, and it was fun telling stories, filling in the gaps with adult children, and helping them through a tough time.  But I have to say...spending one night driving down "The Strip" was like entering another galaxy.  One in which I was not at all happy.  The Old Vegas feel was gone - a time where you still saw remnants of a time where someone started a city with a hope and a dream.  When driving the Strip was all about class and old-school entertainment.  We dressed up in suits and long dresses to attend big-name shows, then stopped to play slot machines or Black Jack as an afterthought.  When you walked into a hotel, and the casino was outside of immediate view.  When driving the Strip also gave you views of desert and mountains - a western landscape.

When aviation was still the best way to get around
in the West.

The Flamingo still had an Old Vegas feel to it...but it
was overshadowed with all that has grown up around it.

From the steps of the Bellagio Hotel, looking
through the fountain.

So, it was good to see, and I watched the "kids" play the money they had designated for the night, and saw the fountain show at the Bellagio (which was too short, and it was impossible to hear the accompanying music because of the blast of noise from the casinos around it), and am glad to have had one more visit to Tinsel Town.

Chihuly glassworks, covering the ceiling of the lobby of the
Bellagio.  Beautiful entrance.  Old-school entrance, and
you didn't see the casino until you had walked through this
grand introduction...and a garden!

Exquisite garden features - all made out of flowers.

Jeff and Julia in front of another area
of the indoor Bellagio garden, under a flag
 also made of flowers.

Lose a little, win a little.  They had fun.
I miss the sound and excitement of pulling
a handle and hearing change drop out.
Everything is electronic, and you insert a bill
and collect credits.  Sigh.

But it was MUCH more fun to be with my family and laugh and cry and tell stories until the wee hours of the morning.

I even had a flight out that matched my daughter's, so Christine and I got to spend some extra time together before going back home.

One wall at the airport was painted with a series of murals
depicting locations around the country.  They were all painted
by children in the area schools.

We had time to shop at the airport as well, so I brought home a little something for Daryl.

Goodbye, Vegas.  A chapter nicely closed.

Another family photo within this shot.  There aren't many
photos of the "kids" with me. :)  I wonder why!