Forty-Nine Firsts: Second First

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.