Viva Vegas
Postcard 1: As Luck Would Have It
"It's like this every Thursday and Friday night," said Nancy, as she stocked the galley of the Delta Boeing 767-300, preparing it for some 250 passengers. "And it's the same way coming back on Sunday," she added. Whether you're on Delta's Flight 317 or Amercia West's equivalent, it's all the same--oversold, over crowded and over-anxious. Over-anxious passengers, that is, who are counting down the hours until they can drop their quarters and pull the slot handle in a repetitious drone in the gaming capital of the world, Las Vegas.
The light bouncing from the buzzing beehives and coifs of two senior couples sitting in front of me casts a blue haze on the horizon. They're literally counting down the minutes as if they don't have many left, and it's obvious not a moment will be wasted this weekend. They're not going to gamble with their time; strategy must be mapped out. A gentleman, who I later learn is Frank, pulls out his map of Las Vegas Boulevard, more commonly known as "The Strip."
He identifies their hotel, and
begins naming off surrounding locations: "Let's see. We're
staying at Ceasars Palace. As luck would have it, we'll pretty
much be in the thick of it all. You got the Bellagio right next
door."
His wife, who I later learn is Myrna, puts down her Guidepost Magazine, "I hear that's that one with that real beautiful fountain. I'd like to see that, wouldn't you Catherine?" she says leaning forward across the aisle.
"Oh yes," Catherine says, as she cross-stitches.
"And let's see, you got that new Aladdin, and we're not too far from the Mirage," Frank adds, still examining the map.
Catherine's husband chimes in: "Oh, that's the one with the volcano. I hear that's great. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to see it blow."
"Myrna," says Catherine, setting down her cross-stitching, "I just want to see all those great hotels, don't you?"
"Oh, yes," replies Myrna.
"But I think we should maybe get settled into our rooms. Maybe take a nap for an hour or so. You know, get used to the time change and all." She begins doing leg-lifts in the aisle to keep her feet from falling asleep. "And then maybe we can get a little something to eat. Like a sandwich," says Catherine.
"Umm, hmm. A sandwich would be good after nap," says Myrna.
"And maybe we can check out the casino. You know, not too late, but just to see if we hit our luck tonight. And tomorrow night, we can get a nice meal. Maybe a prime rib at a nice buffet or something."
"Mmm. Prime rib. A buffet would be nice." As luck would have it, Myrna and Catherine and their husbands will find plenty of buffets in Las Vegas.
They're planning was cut short, though. Somewhere north of Lubbock, Texas, as luck would have it, the Captain promised acute bumpiness,, interrupting the cabin service. "It should only last 20 to 30 minutes," he added cheerfully. Seventy-five minutes later, still held hostage by an illuminated sign and having yet to feel a bucking ride any worse than riding in the car with my friend Dan, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a carefully orchestrated tactic with the intention of providing a supermarket romance novel break for our in-flight crew, who is really here for our safety and their role as cocktail waitress is only secondary.
Four hours after leaving Atlanta, a bright spot emerges below
us from the darkness. An oasis of neon, gold fleck, stucco and
faux marble begins to emerge. A buffet longer than anyone might
imagine, and where "cha-ching" is music to someone's
ears. A land where dead celebrities still perform, and those
you thought were dead have retired. As luck would have it, we
have
arrived.
Continue on to the next postcard.
- Viva Vegas 2: Oh My God, That Was Good
- Viva Vegas 3: Attitude of the Gabmling Rock Star
- Viva Vegas 4: The Keeper of the Recipe
- Viva Vegas 5: The Experience of Las Vegas
- Viva Vegas 6: Energy Flows at the Four Queens
- Viva Vegas 7: Life Is Funny That Way