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I’m ready!

Yesterday, I walked the strip for 1/2 mile to the Luxor, in a pair of sandals I’ve had for some time. Not sure what went wrong but I had one blister by the time I got there and another one starting. I had to go into a shop and buy a cheap pair of flip-flops for the 1/2 mile trip back. Too late! I had 3 blisters by the time I got to my room. Ouch! Why, oh why did I leave my Nike Airs at home this time?! This brings me to the topic of how a 1/2 mile on the Vegas strip can turn, what would normally take 10-20 minutes to walk, into an hour!

The strip is a trap…literally! The day before, I called my childhood friend, Shari, who lives here, to see if she was available for a visit. She was. We set our time and she came to pick me up. I thought I’d be smart by making the pick up easy for her since the Cosmopolitan is brand new and she wasn’t sure where the lobby entrance was (this hotel is huge). I walked out the lobby doors where the limos and taxis are. Smart, right? Wrong! The sidewalks are engineered so that you cannot walk along the strip except where they’ve decided you can walk. There are rails and gates all over the place, trapping you in like a small prison!

I saw my first complication when Shari pulled up beside me on the street, with a 3 1/2 foot fence between us! She rolled her window down. Was she yelling for me to jump it? I couldn’t tell. I considered it then remembered my age and the lack of agility that hit me about two years ago. I saw a sign for the next hotel’s Guest Drop-off. I quickened my pace. Shari accelerated her white Mustang to our mutual destination. Minutes later, I found an opening. She was waiting at the end as I shouted, “I’m out! I’m out!!” I jumped in her car and we sped off. Then she told me that the locals avoid the Strip at all costs. Now I know why!

Last night Peter and I attended a company sponsored event at The Hard Rock Cafe. The band was great (The Spazmatics; an 80’s tribute band). We danced. We sang. We ate things we wouldn’t eat at home. The party went until midnight. We were back in our room by 9:30pm. It was a good effort.

I’m waiting in the hotel lobby now waiting to go to the airport. I’m starting to fantasize about my own bed. It’s time.