The first time we went together, we were with a friend of JP's and a couple of his buddies, who were literally rocket scientists. And huge NASCAR fans, which I remember thinking was funny (yes, I realize that NASCAR is the most popular sport in the US by numbers, and not everyone who is a fan is a redneck). I think it was in late 2004 or early 2005, because I remember getting choked up about the recent Red Sox World Series Win (sports make me very emotional...) But the big thing I remember about that trip was that it was when I actually learned how old JP was! When I first started seeing him, I had it in my head that there was an 11-year age difference. But it was 13 years. Not that it mattered. But I do remember him being like "there's something I need to show you" and handing me his license. I was confused (and a little drunk) and he had to say "look at the date" before I realized. It was funny at the time. I think he had at some point corrected me on the 11-year thing but said it was 12 - he didn't want me to know what an old man he was ;) (at the time that had happened, he was 36 or 37 - not old at all!)
The next trip we took there was on the tail of a work trip. As they all were, actually. We stayed at the Westin, and it was actually kind of nice to not be staying in one of the big casinos. On my way there, I lost my driver's license. In the airport at LaGuardia. I noticed it before I got on the plane, but it was nowhere to be found (must have fallen out of my pocket after I went through security). I ended up having to have my roommate locate my passport and overnight it to me! And that first night, we pretty much had to stay in the casino at the Westin because they knew what had happened and were ok with serving me. I sat and watched him play hand after hand of Black Jack.
Our third and final trip together was September 15, 2007. He was, again, out there for work, and I would be meeting him for the weekend. Due to bad weather in Atlanta, I got stuck at the airport in DC. I was flying out of Dulles, which was a hefty cab ride from where we lived in Arlington, so I took the hotel voucher and stayed by the airport. But I was determined to get out there, if only for one night. I stayed up late watching a Red Sox-Yankees game (one of those epic 13-inning games between the two...and the Red Sox didn't even win!) so I was exhausted when I arrived at Mandalay Bay on Saturday morning. I could tell something was up with JP. He was making secret phone calls and seemed a bit put-out. But we had a nice day - went to the Shark Tank exhibit, watched the next game in the Sox-Yanks series (which the Red Sox won, I believe), and I got my nickel slot fix. For dinner we met up with friends (colleagues of his) and I remember we went out for Chinese, which is not my favorite. I was a little cranky from being tired and spending my one evening in Vegas at a Chinese restaurant (albeit a very nice one) and they were all tired from being in Vegas all week. That night we went to a Los Lonely Boys concert. Even though we only knew that one song (How Far is Heaven, which now seems a bit ironic), JP and I had a good time. We got good and tipsy, our friends went home, and we enjoyed the concert, which was at Mandalay's beach/wave pool. After, we went to The Wynn, which I think was just barely completed, and sat out by the fountain where they do light/water/video/etc. shows. After a couple more drinks, he reached into his jacket pocket, grabbed my hand, and without asking or saying anything, put the ring on my finger. I had kind of been expecting it (he'd had "the talk" with my parents a while back, not to mention the fact that I had found the ring!) but it still took me by surprise. I cried, we both said some nice things to each other, and I'm sure the people around us thought we seemed totally insane and wasted. But it was wonderful. Such a happy night.
Later, I learned that he had had this big plan for Friday night, and had reserved some spot in the Eiffel Tower that overlooks the strip...and honestly, part of me was glad that it didn't turn out that way. I loved our drunken engagement in Vegas and wouldn't change a thing about it. I'm not one for big romantic gestures, so I think I would have felt weird about him doing some grand proposal in the fake Eiffel Tower...
Anyway, it was nice to relive some wonderful memories of the time JP and I spent there, but since I have also been a number of times without him, it wasn't so painful. We had a nice time. Got some pool time, some penny slot time, went out for some nice meals, saw a show, and went clubbing all but the last night, when most of us were too tired to contemplate drinking and dancing.
We also spread some ashes there. I'm sure my mother-in-law is horrified that I did this, but Vegas was a very special place for us, and it felt right. And it ended up being a magical moment. After a very nice dinner at The Wynn, we went to the fountain where the engagement happened, and the second we tossed the ashes in, the water began to fizz and a very cool show started, with a flamenco theme. It may have been one of the ones that we saw the night we got engaged (or maybe I just want to think that...) Vegas might be a cheese-ball place for the most part - fake, and a strange juxtaposition of over-the-top opulence right next to gritty smoky ickiness. But it will always have a special place in my heart.
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