Vegas Baby

Las Vegas was the last place on Earth I wanted to take a toddler, but we did it anyway. As it turned out, our three months of meticulous planning paid off. We stayed at the Hotel at Mandalay Bay (you can see it here - www.thehotelatmandalaybay.com). It was very expensive but it was the only place we could find on the south end of the strip with a bedroom separate from the living room. This was a very good move. The place was so comfortable and the staff was extremely welcoming to us. My mom came with us to help with Divina. On Saturday, Divina and my mom retired to the bedroom for a nap and Mark's mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law came to visit. I regaled them with stories of silly questions kids have asked me in OWL (the sexuality education program I participated in last year) then we got up and left to out for a few hours. I mean we just got up and left. There was no sippy cup to fill, no diaper bag to check, no baby to strap in the stroller, no fuss. It was the first time in a year and half that I just got up and left. It was liberating, if only for two hours. I'm so glad my mom came with us to help. The weekend turned out to actually be a vacation for us. I am truly amazed by this.

It was also our six year anniversary, which made the weekend doubly special. Even though the only times Mark and I had to be alone together was walking from one room to another through the noisy casino, we savored every step. I love that man.

The weekend had me thinking a lot about our future family gatherings. I hope we can all meet again at a wonderful destination again but I miss the times we gathered at a house and stayed there. We'd play Balderdash and talk and laugh for hours. It takes so long to warm up. In the story The Little Prince the fox tells the boy that he should always take time to tame him so that his heart will be ready for him. That's what we need, taming. With so many things to do, you have to plunge right in. It's hard to get to that familiar place where you can open up and reveal your evolution. A while ago I came across this - www.icelandcottage.com. Observe the isolation, the solitude, the peace and quiet. Observe the lack of emenities, the freedom because of it. This is not a destination that I would expect most people would seek out, but to me it looks like heaven. Perhaps we will meet at a hotel somewhere where there are lots of activities. Any way, we will be together and happy.