"Home again"

This afternoon as we crossed the bridge that spans the river between Maine and New Hampshire, I paused to remember the events of the past week. WOW! Using a GPS for the second time in our lives, flying to Phoenix and arriving in 115 degree heat, driving up to Flagstaff and "enjoying" 67 degrees, visiting the breathtaking views of the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and the Grand Canyon, driving to the Hoover Dam, and arriving to the heat, glitz, noise, and excitement of Las Vegas....wow we have had quite a vacation!

The GPS is an amazing invention. We nicknamed her "Sally" and she took on a life and personality of her own. My dad, who is 80 and does not want anything to do with computers and anything modern, loved "Sally". He actually named her and helped to create her "persona". I saw a "set" in the Harley Davidson showroom in Las Vegas of some skeletons dressed in Harley gear holding a sign saying, "but its a dry heat". Well, yes...but it is a hot heat too! It was a huge relief to leave the heat of Phoenix for the more pleasant weather in the mountains. Las Vegas heat did not seem quite so oppressive but perhaps it is the "killer air conditioning" everywhere or the fact that you are so caught up in the glitz that you forget how hot you are..I don't know. Coming back home today and dealing with the damp, clammy, humid weather at home made me wish for a little of that dry heat.

The final day/night in Las Vegas was busy. It was time to buy some last minute gifts, see all you could see, and the night we had been waiting for....the show by Terry Fator. If you did not see him on the show, "America's got Talent", let me just say...he is one very talented man! His show was unique, entertaining, amazing, and all the other adjectives you would use to describe a great show. He engaged and embraced his audience. My seat was center stage, 5 rows back...true VIP seats as we were told by the usher. Sadly, the meet/greet after the show was cancelled, but the pictures and memories will last for a long time. After the show, it was time for one last visit to the casino...yep...the penny slots...I won and lost my $3.00 again and again. My luck changed, however, and my winnings reached $7.13 before tumbling to $3.30. So...I cashed out, and dragged Greg to the walk way to enjoy the volcano eruption one last time.

"Sally" directed us to the airport, we made it through security, had lunch, and waited for our Southwest flight back to Manchester. Sitting in the waiting area, we visited with fellow New Englanders and shared stories about the hotels, casinos, shows, we had all enjoyed over the past week. One little guy told me David Copperfield made his mom disappear on stage and a honeymoon couple told me about having dinner at the top of the Stratosphere...

We are home safe and sound...I just finished reading everyone's latest blog postings, graded a few of the final writing workshop pieces that have been submitted. It is time for a little tv, a good book, and bed...