My Vegas

Vegas.

Las Vegas holds a very special place in my heart because it’s the very first place that Brian and I ever travelled to together.  As a matter of fact, the first time we went, we went with a group of friends and we weren’t even dating yet.  Well, just a few short weeks after that trip (or maybe even in Vegas) we fell in love with each other and we also fell in love with Vegas.  We went every single year after that for eight years straight, only discontinuing our trips after the birth of Jacob.  Ironically, the last time we were there was to attend a concert at Mandalay Bay. 

Vegas has always been our favorite vacation destination and our annual trip was always one of the most anticipated events of the entire year for us.  So many wonderful memories were made in that city, and to see it in this new light this week is just heartbreaking.  My Vegas was never supposed to be a city where bullets rained down on innocent concert goers.  My Vegas was never supposed to be a city that will forever be remembered as the city where the biggest mass shooting in America took place.

My Vegas is a city where you go to treat yourself to some of the best meals you’ve ever had in your life and you don’t even think twice when you get the bill.

My Vegas is a city where you sit down in the casinos and trade in dollar chips for whiskey sours as you play Betty Boop nickel slots and you FLIP OUT when you win $20.

My Vegas is a city where you and your husband laugh hysterically in every parking garage because you lose your rental car every. single. time. because there are just so many of them and they all look alike with their California license plates.

My Vegas is a city where you stay up ‘til 6 in the morning playing Texas Hold ‘em and you watch the sun rise as you head back to your hotel room.

My Vegas is a city where you go to have a honeymoon redo because your first honeymoon sucked and you know Vegas would never let you down.

My Vegas is a city where you walk and walk and walk and try to soak up as many of the sights as you possibly can before each day is over.

My Vegas is a city where you head to the top of Stratosphere tower just before sunset so you can see the city lights come on in all their glory while the dusk fades to black.

My Vegas is a city where you dress to the nines, walk around in stiletto heels all evening, and walk barefoot back to your hotel room at the end of the night while alternately hitching rides on your husband’s back because you know your feet are going to be SO GROSS if you don’t.

My Vegas is a city where you go to see incredible shows that transport you to other places and times and you watch each scene breathlessly eager to see what happens next.

My Vegas is a city where you go to cruise the strip and belt out Rob Thomas songs at the top of your lungs because it seems like they play his music everywhere there. 

My Vegas is a city where you stand hand-in-hand with your husband and gaze dreamily at the gorgeous Bellagio fountains as they dance to the sweet sound of Andrea Bocelli’s voice.  You might even tear up a little.

My Vegas is a city that you are heartbroken to leave, but you don’t cry because you know you’ll be back again soon.

My Vegas is a city that you visit to laugh, to feel glamorous, and to fall in love, but most importantly, my Vegas is a city that you visit to make memories that will last a lifetime.

That is my Vegas.

We love Vegas, we’re praying for all of the people’s lives who were touched last Sunday in this tragic event, and we are looking forward to the day that we make it back there. 

Because we surely aren’t going to let the evil in the world stop us from doing the things we love.

Viva Las Vegas.

*Linking up with Sparkles and Lattes for Confessional Thursday and Home of Malones for Thoughts for Thursday.