Las Vegas

July 31, 1995

We decided to get a hotel room in Las Vegas—well Dave and Lynda did.  It was too hot and too far to a campground.  It was around 5pm when we pulled into Harrah’s Hotel and Casino.  Harrah’s is across from Planet Hollywood and Caesar’s Palace.  They paid $55 for a room on the 19^th floor.  After showers, we went down to explore.

I bought a $30 ticket for a show—Spellbound!  I couldn’t stay in Vegas without seeing a show.  I received a ticket for a free drink, but I couldn’t pass for 21.  So, I had to make to with non-alcoholic drink.  I sat down with a black couple from Chicago, a couple from Mexico and a foreign exchange student from Saudi Arabia who traveled from the University of Virginia.  The show itself was fast paced and full of wonder, magic, dancing, acrobatics and even comedy.  There were dazzling and revealing costumes as well as a black panther and a tiger to admire.  Energy pumped through me and I longed to be a part of the dance and the magic.

I thought of the average American and how this we their chance to feel the energy as well—to get lost in the dream or the illusion.  Unfortunately, people waste their money away on illusions, never realizing that money can’t buy happiness.  Some dreams are more than material and some dreams are never meant to become solid.  Some dreams are only reminders of what is possible.  Las Vegas is nice, but only for a time.

It is time to sleep…to sleep perchance to dream and, oh, what sweet dreams!

August 1, 1995

Woke up today in a hotel room in Vegas, now I am in the mountains far from the glamour and now back into bear country.  This morning we packed up and left.  We checked out and visited Caesar’s Palace, Treasure Island, and The Mirage. I used a slot machine at Caesar’s Place and got kicked out!  I bought a Planet Hollywood T-Shirt and saw Zigfield and Roy’s white tiger.  Tired and hot, I said let’s hit the road.  So we headed out about noon.