Second First - Viva Las Vegas

This last weekend, I did several firsts--the biggest being going to Las Vegas.  No, I didn't go to play the slots or drink myself into oblivion, but instead this trip was a family reunion of sorts, revolving around the Rock N Roll Half Marathon.  Over a year ago, my Aunt Edie (mom's sister) and Uncle Chuck invited my mom, sister, and me to join them in Vegas to "run the Strip at night" and to hang out with them and my two cousins, Abby and Tim. Also, Tim would be bringing his new wife, Eunice.   "Sure," we said. So, that's what we did this last weekend.  We got up at the crack of dawn to catch a 6:00 am flight out of Milwaukee and were in Vegas by mid-morning.

Though Las Vegas didn't (and still doesn't) rank in my list of favorite cities, I'm glad I finally got to see and experience its strange mix of Disneyland seediness and "high end" consumerism.  One of my favorite moments was waiting for the fountains to go off at the Bellagio and watching a guy, with a big "Repent Your Sins" sign and a megaphone, ply his trade next to two blonde showgirls in red feathers and sequins.  My iPhone could not fully capture the irony.

We did the usual--saw a show (Jersey Boys), walked the Strip at night, ate at some good restaurants, and watched a lot of other people gamble.  We also got out of town on Sunday morning to see Red Rocks Canyon.  My favorite touristy bit was riding the High Roller, a big ferris wheel-like contraption that gives you stunning views in all directions.  It was especially lovely at night, and there was very little waiting to get on it on Saturday night--maybe everyone else was gambling.

I had a great time, but I have to say that the longer I stayed in Vegas, the more I wanted to go back to New Orleans.  Make of that what you will.

I'm King of the World!

On the High Roller

View from the High Roller

The Strip at Night

Now for something completely different- Red Rocks Canyon (about 30 minutes away from Las Vegas)

Edie, Eunice, and Abby at Red Rocks Canyon

First First - Turning 49

Okay, my first first took place on Thursday.  My first full day as someone who is 49 years old.  Holy crap!  That's about all I can say.  I now understand why Jack Benny decided to be 39 over and over again.   I don't know how I thought I would feel at the end of my 40's but I didn't think it would be pretty much the same as I felt at the end of my 30's and really the end of my 20's.  Yes, my knees are achier and my hair is thinner and goggle marks post-swim practice remain around my eyes for much longer than they used to . . . but I don't feel old.  Or at least I don't feel "almost fifty" old.

Yet, I might be lying to myself just a little.  There are constant reminders that I'm not 29 anymore.  There's the student who keeps calling me "Mrs. Staben,"  the much loved movie, book, or TV show that I realize first came out . . . 25 YEARS AGO, or the concert venue (last week . . . The Empty Bottle) where you look around and go, "Geez, I feel ancient."  I wonder if that group over by the bar is looking at me and going, "What's my mom doing here?" or even worse, they don't even see me at all. :)

This might seem cliche but I think that at a certain point, age is as much a state of mind as anything else.  I was a fairly restrained 20-something and I'm not all that different now.  I loved going to live music when I was 25 and I still do now (and if anything, I go to more shows).  I still sing loudly in the car (and swear at bad drivers) and I still secretly harbor a dream to play guitar and sing angry songs like P.J. Harvey and Ani DiFranco.  I still love Billy Bragg but now I love Frank Turner too.

I guess here is where I'm at right now with age.  I can't fight getting older so I might as well enjoy the benefits of more years on this planet, try to mitigate the physical effects by eating well and being active, active, active AND living this year (and the ones to follow) well--doing a job I love, hanging with people I love, and doing things I love.