We got on the road a little later than expected. Preparing everything around the house for the caregiver who would be with Emily for the weekend took time. She had never stayed over with Emily, and then there were the dogs. We had a scheduled grooming for Coco at 9 am and didn't want to cancel that. My sister patiently waited and watched Home Free on YouTube while I ran around the house like a mad woman. It was almost 11 am when we finally hit the freeway for Las Vegas. I could sense that Todd's anxiety was high, and his patience was low. My gut was warning me that this ride was going to include some Turbulence. I was not wrong. By the time we finally arrived at the hotel (7 hours after we left home), Todd was ready to take a flight home. He was done, and we hadn't even started the trip. He left to take a walk, and I cried.
I was so upset. My sister was there for the entire ride. She witnessed the traffic. The closed freeway. The wrong turn I made when we stopped for lunch increased the time it took to get there. Carol had a front-row seat to the ugly side of marriage. In all relationships that matter, there are Highs and Lows. (This might be my marriage theme song.) The 7+ hour drive to Las Vegas from our home was definitely a low. Todd and I left our emotional sobriety in Long Beach, or at least it was delayed by a few hours.
As my sister consoled me, we made plans to regroup and go sightseeing. She is older than me, and this was her first trip to Las Vegas. Despite being trapped in the car for hours, we jumped back in the car. We were off to see The Strip at night. I calculated the route to see the new Sphere. Las Vegas at night is magical, and sharing it with someone for the first time cannot be underestimated. My joy cup was filling back up. A couple of hours later, we returned to the hotel. Todd was back. The walk and fresh air had lessened his anxiety, and sharing the beauty of Vegas left me calmer as well. I was clear in our conversation that I refused to spend our precious time away from caregiving arguing. I didn't want to waste a moment of our respite. We committed at that moment to turn the trip around and make the most of it, and we did.
We visited The Conservatory at the Bellagio. My sister gambled for the first time. She won money…and cashed out. Todd and I received the best service at Heritage Steakhouse inside The Mirage Hotel. We have dined there before, and this trip was incredible. We enjoyed a steak and potato dinner, and I sipped on a delightful Merlot from Robert Keenan Winery. Everyone we encountered at the restaurant was engaging, knowledgeable, and friendly. We decided to walk from The Mirage to the Bakk Theater at Planet Hollywood, where we saw Miranda Lambert. Our seats were incredible, and no one got yelled at for taking selfies. The next day, we met my friend Cheryl for brunch at Red Rock Casino. After an enjoyable meal, my sister won more money…and cashed out. Our trip ended with a drive through Red Rock Canyon. The stunning views and majestic sunset were a beautifully calm end to the rocky start of our little getaway.
I never want to take my relationships for granted. My friendships, my family, and my spouse mean everything to me. Life has taught me that in important relationships, there will be conflicts. When the thoughts or opinions of another matter, there will be disagreements. I will leave you with a quote from my favorite fictional guru, Ted Lasso, "Even Woody and Buzz got under each other's plastic." Well said, Ted. Well said.
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