21's in Los Wages

It began like any normal flying day, but this time was alittle different.... "I was on Vacation!"... oh yeah, and Had 5 twenty-one year olds with me.. This was not normal!!!

Up and at em' 4:30am on a Monday morning. Shower, and pack, ready to go to Las Vegas!!! Now, I have been on numerous occasions, but this time packing my nearest and dearest to my heart, what was I going to do with them? My usual activities were going to be somewhat curtailed...

Everyone at the airport, now I am in charge of these girls, I do my count, 1,2,3,4,5... all there... Time to board the plane, 1,2,3,4,5... all on. All smiles, and happy!!! 35mins into the flight... I turned to check and see if someone snuck out... "All crashed out!!! 1,2,3,4,5!" Ha, I think to myself - this is going to be a breeze!

Gpt to Memphis, then on to LAS.. wow, tour director status becomes alittle to juggle. "I want food", "I don't want this, I'm going to find another place to eat", "where is the Starbucks?" ok, now I'm looking for my xanax, for gosh sakes, its only 7:30am in the mornin!!! ( I don't function well, until my 3.5 cups of cheap, generic roasted beans that produce caramel colored juice we call coffee, and only for $2.00..) One run to "The Blue Note" to burn one, then multiple stops at other venues, Starbucks, etc. Surely I couldn't lose them in the Memphis airport...hmmmm....

Headed rapidly to the gate, I evidently pass up the 1,2,3,4,5 as I hear "all zones boarding" over the PA system.... Smart kids, they are so excited, they have already loaded onto the plane. ... Good. Thinking to myself, all is well, as I am seated in first class, grab a bloody Mary and forget about them for 4 hours... I was oh, so wrong!!!I My cell rings,, great its Rachel - she has my laptop, so I need to know what seats they are in. WAIT!,... "Do you know where your laptop is?" starts the conversation.....this isn't a prank call ..... they are still outside, waiting to board the plane! Crud, I've already misplaced them, and its not even 9:am....

Touchdown! We are in the land of Lost Wages... very excited, first thang on the list, "gotta go to the sign. The famous sign"... never went before, cuz I KNEWW where I was... but hey tourist events... loading up the suburban, we're off!!! Vegas here we come. Our Hall monitor, Ashley, already organized brochures when getting into the room, quick drop off, and out the door the kids go. They have found a bus that drops at about 16 casino attractions. The only way I knew their where abouts was refreshing Facebook! These kids are uploading pics left and right... seeing the smiles, they've only been here for 4 hours, the smiles were priceless!!

Gambling, sightseeing, roll a coasters, pictures with Elvis and the Broadway ram diction of "The Lion King" was in their folio. These 5 young ladies packed in alot for 3 days! I wouldn't have traded the world to be in the vacation seat I was in. Watching these young ladies faniggle their monies, getting the most out of there time was truly priceless! Some people say I am crazy, but hey, I can say it was one of the best times in Vegas I experienced in awhile.

I got to see several friends while in town. Sushi with Becky and Amy! Great pick you ladies, and had a blast. Hope you enjoyed dinner with the clan. Another visit, Lu met me at the hotel for drinks. Coming through the lobby, I see her and she is holding a bag for me! A PRESENT! A big bag for a little happy that was inside. I almost went to tears, as I open the bag, in a little zip lock is something that I thought I would never see again. A baseball hat from the "Dizzy Dolphin" complete with surfboard stirrers... bright YELLOW( a conversion done at AC Hilton)... matches from.. I couldn't believe it... "Grand Casino", same logo pin. These items I thought lost forever destroyed by the storm! What a gift!!!

A nice evening catching up, and cacklin' about old times. Yes thangs have changed, we have lived and grown through these experiences! (More grown out for me!)

No hairy moments, just fun, but mom's, I am bringing them home, BEAT!!! Up and at em' Thursday morning, instructions be in the lobby at 9:am. All there, loaded into the vehicle we're out of there! Dropping off the rental, we are now on bus to the airport, and I can see them all.... the faces, small smiles, and heavy eyes... yep, they are gonna sleep good tonite!

Over the next few days, they come and go, hearing the laughing outside on the porch, the stories they are telling to their friends.... yep, they had a fun time....

I'm just waiting for the statement.... "and where are we going next year?".

One statement can depict this trip... " A good time was had by all!"