In 2006, we received an invitation to a “family” anniversary
party for Bill’s brother. While this is a normal thing to receive, the place
that they were holding the party was a bit different as two of their kids lived
in Las Vegas so everyone would be flying in for the party. First, we were not
excited about going to a “family” party as they always are so interesting and
then we really did not like the idea of going to Vegas. But, like funerals and
wedding, it is seen as a family fail if you don’t show up for certain events. This
was one of those events we felt a bit obligated to go as they had come to our
renewal of vows in May that year.
This trip took place the end of July and Jenn was 20,
Heather was 18 and Wendy was 16 and they were excited but apprehensive about
going to Vegas. Finding a room for a good rate was difficult for a family of 5
as most hotels on the strip only allow 4 people per room so I would have to
reserve 2 rooms. I finally found suite that would allow 5 people but it was
kind of a dump and off the strip, but what else could I do?
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| Hard Rock shirt from Myrtle Beach |
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| The bracelet Heather brought for me-I add charms from all the Hard Rocks I visit |
We drove up and at that time we had to drive thru the Hoover
Dam. I had been there when I was little, but of course did not remember it. It
was a blistering, hot day there, but we stopped and walked around to get a good
look at the Dam. They were beginning to build the Memorial overpass bridge as
the alternate route besides the Hoover Dam road, but nothing much was visible
from the Dam. All we kept picturing the Chevy Chase Vegas Vacation movie where
he is hanging on the side of the Dam wall.
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| Wendy, Heather, Jenn and Sherry-2006 |
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| Hoover Dam-I get better with age |
The drive was long and the hotel was okay but hot inside the
room. We arrived about dinner time and decided to hit a buffet, then off to walk
the strip. We were on the south end of the strip at Tropicana and Las Vegas
Blvd. As soon as we ate headed to find the Hard Rock Hotel, for Heather that
was about a mile off the strip. Heather had on her Hard Rock shirt from Myrtle
Beach and wanted to find some goodies from Hark Rock in Vegas. Afterwards we
actually had lots of fun shopping at all the different hotels. The casinos were
gross with smoke and weird people, but we only walked thru on our way to the
bathroom.
It was once we hit Caesar’s Palace that Heather was thrilled
to death. There she found The Coach Store and bought her first ever designer
label item. It was the beginning of a huge love affair with all thing designer.
When she was halfway thru chemo treatments she bought herself her first Coach
purse and she took the scarf and tied it onto the purse. The silk bag that
holds the purse she placed her wigs in to keep them safe. One of her favorite
designers was the House of Chanel as she even bought a pink tweed looking
jacket with a dress for her senior year. Her hope was to one day actually own a
Chanel suit or jacket.
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| Heather with the M&M car, Vegas, 2006 |
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| My Snooks with the M&M car, Vegas, 2015 |
We all were having such a good time that we hated to go to
the family party, which was the main reason why we were there. Of course the
food was horrible, we sat at a table with random people and then there was the
fun moments of tension with the family. Now of course we have nothing to do
with any of Bill’s family and the stress and tension is gone until his sister
puts unwanted thing out at Heather’s grave. I simply throw them away, but I
wish they would erase the rest of us as easily as they erased Heather and just
leave us alone.
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| Heather's 1st Coach, Vegas 2006 |
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| Heather's scarf |
Time flew by, school began, Wendy graduated, Heather went to
South Carolina and got a new job at Target and we never thought about going
back to Vegas. This past weekend Wendy and Sunnie were heading to Vegas to
celebrate their 3rd anniversary and they invited me to tag along
since Bill is out of the country. I wasn’t going to go and then I thought why
not, perfect time to spend with Snooks, and the kids too. As we went out that
first night the memories came flooding back in and suddenly I was transported
back to 2006.
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| A Mimi, a Snooks and a tiger sum up Vegas, 2015 |
One afternoon the kids went down the other side of the strip
to head back to the hotel and I wanted to go to The Coach Store and to the
Chanel store. I found more than I bargained for and ended up buying the
matching item for Wendy and Jenn in different colors. I am certain that Heather
was pushing and very happy to have my buy something at her first Coach store.
Then I headed to the Chanel store not sure what I was going to purchase but I
knew I wanted to get something. I had gotten sunglasses at Chanel on Rodeo Dr.
a signature camellia flower pin at Chanel in NYC and now another pair of
sunglasses at Chanel in Las Vegas. I love all my sunglasses and Chanel never
goes out of style.
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| Dark sunglasses-Rodeo Dr, pin-NYC and nude sunglasses Vegas |
Looking back it made me sad to think that the only reason
why we went to Vegas was for a forced family event and that was Heather’s only
time to go. Not that Vegas is that great of a place, it is a place I think most
people need to experience once in their lifetime. I do not gamble and I don’t
drink, much, but there are other things to do in Vegas. The nighttime there is
very interesting as the creepy people come out with the naked ladies and rest
of the weirdos. I could live without that part. I feel this trip brought up lots
of memories and emotions but for the most part they are good, but the hurt
never goes away and trips like this somehow makes my heart hurt a bit more.
