Listening
to the weather news about the intense heat in Las Vegas brings back
memories of seven years ago. The year 2006 was “The Year Of The
Vegas Wedding” for our family. We were there not once, but twice,
for offspring weddings.
Our
first trip was in July for my younger daughter's wedding, and it was
hot that year, too. We flew out of Kansas City International Airport
on a Sunday morning, arriving midday at McCarron Airport in Vegas.
There were five of us on that flight, and we were fortunate that one
in the group had a relative with a limo – so we arrived at The
Excalibur in great style......though hubby has learned over the years
that his 6' 3” frame isn't exactly made for limo comfort!
Most
of the wedding group arrived that Sunday, though the bride and groom
and a few others had arrived on Saturday. Hubby's younger daughter
and her boyfriend drove out from L.A. and met us there as well. That
evening was especially memorable because the boyfriend loaded hubby,
my mom, and me in his car and took us up The Strip just at dusk, when
all the city lights were coming on. It was a spectacular sight.
We
parked and went inside the then-new Wynn Hotel – I knew I was out
of my league when we walked past the Ferrari store inside the hotel.
We stopped later at The Bellagio, but we didn't get to see the water
show. The wind had picked up enough that it wasn't feasible for the
show to go on. (When we got back home, within a week, there was a
special about it on The Travel Channel – so I feel like I saw it in
person!)
The
next morning Mom and I decided to take a walk, and we walked from The
Excalibur down to the Bellagio – a good hike, especially when the
heat was climbing past 100. Hubby had lived and worked in Vegas for
three years earlier in his career, so he had warned me about the
heat. Luckily, there are some more mundane businesses along The Strip
– on our walk back, I ducked into a Walgreens and bought bottles of
water for both of us and made Mom drink hers. Once she got the water
into her, she realized that she did need it.
That
beautiful wedding went well and we enjoyed ourselves – and we got
to witness Rich's younger daughter get engaged while we were there as
well......I had suspected that might be why her boyfriend wanted to
join us in Vegas. What we didn't realize at the time was that we'd be
back in Vegas in exactly five months for their wedding.
December
is a much more moderate month to be in Vegas. Hubby and I naturally
had our winter coats with us – but I don't think either of us used
our coats while we were there. The daytime temps were around 60, so
we were very comfortable without a wrap – while the group from L.A.
was freezing!
The
December wedding was held at Little Chapel of the West, the original
Vegas wedding chapel. It's a quaint little spot and was just perfect
for that wedding. Hubby and I flew out by ourselves and used a cab to
get to The Orleans, a nice smaller casino/hotel about a mile off The
Strip. That atmosphere was more our speed! I missed the shopping
that had been available at The Excalibur, but there was better eating
at The Orleans!
We
haven't been back to Vegas since. The family gatherings since then
have been at other places. Four years ago we joined hubby's family in
Medford, Oregon (where his folks live) to celebrate his Mom's 85th
birthday and his Mom and Stepdad's 60th wedding
anniversary. Two years ago found us in Menlo Park, California (the
Bay Area) for his stepdad's 90th birthday celebration.
Next year will be his Mom's 90th birthday, so we'll see if
we have any more adventures in our future!
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