How does one cope in the sensory overload that is known as Las Vegas? I’ve been roaming the aisles of casinos for the last couple days, not much of a gambler myself, but along for the ride with my parents and partner, all of whom enjoy the rush of winning vs losing and the dopamine hits from bling blang blung of joker wild poker, monopoly money grab, coyote moon or buffalo gamble. JQ more prefers the serene poker tables with a $15 buy in and builds up his chips slowly but surely, only to let em fly out of his pocket at the roulette table.
I’ve noticed the audible soundtracks playing above all the other noise; seemingly pro-gambling songs like ‘Take it Easy,’ ‘Hungry Like a Wolf,’ ‘Future Age’ and ‘Every Little Step,’ innocuously bribing gamblers spin the wheel just one more time. I dance a little as I walk, slightly lifted above the scene by the background music, partially inspired by the 1/2 of an edible I legally consumed before departing for the day.
I placed my first sports bet on my parents’ dueling colleges in favor of Mom’s alma mater, Kent State over Dad’s Bowling Green State University Falcons, and I won $40! So I guess I am up a little.
Mostly I enjoy the stroll through and checking out the uniqueness of each casino, finding nooks to read a book I brought, tasting gelato, and buying tchotchkes in the gift shops. Playing lost and found with Mom, who bumps from machine to machine in a slow migration quest to which smiling leprechaun is the luckiest.
Yesterday we went to the Neon Museum, which was a really cool display of some of the old Vegas signs in various shapes of repair. Some still lit up and all of them were huge like cartoons. I loved looking at them and remembering seeing those exact signs in older movies with Vegas scenes
Last night after having a delightful dinner, we had tickets to “The Beatles: Love” and holy wow I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show quite like that. The acrobatics and skills of those performers felt like magic, especially as they floated over our heads, suspended by a singular rope and seemingly weightless as the literally flew through the air.
This morning, a hike to see petroglyphs - a little scary on some of the climbs- helped remind me LV isn’t all just about bright lights and money. Traveling is fun, and seeing what each place has to offer beyond the tourist traps and cliches sometimes requires a little more planning but it’s always worth it.
Nice and gambling can be good but mostly BAD
Sounds like it was another great trip!