vegas...many people refer to this place as sin city and would not envision this as a family vacation spot, but to me vegas is where my family spends the most amount of time together so it has a different type of feeling to it.
growing up I would always hear the adults talk about their Vegas stories at all the family parties. it seemed like every family would go there at least once a year...THAT was the norm...at least in hawaii. after moving to the mainland for college, I found out that Vegas wasn't a commonplace destination for all families, in fact it was common for me to get a crazy look when I said I went there every year! when I tell them my fam would meet there for thanksgiving every year I would at least get an understanding nod b/c at least our family was together for the holiday. little did they know that my family actually meets there 2-3 times per year!
I guess the way this all started is b/c of my grandparents. after they retired they started going almost every other month. I honestly was never concerned that they had a gambling problem b/c they were very practical people...setting aside a set amount of money to play with and turning in early when they weren't doing well. i think they just enjoyed going on vacation and playing the games which I think is where I get my love for games and sports of all kinds. it's the thrill of winning coupled with the humbling of losing that I love. as for the money side of it, well to me, that's just the cost of doing it in Vegas and for spending time with my family. it's the same reason I'll pay crazy airfares to go home every Christmas... money is nothing if I can't spend time with the people I love.
after my grandpa passed away, my mom decided that she would go with my grandma so that she could still go to Vegas. obviously my mom couldn't go 6 times a year since she still worked, so they compromised and now they go 3 times a year. the rest of my fam (sis, dad and aunty) decided it was a good a time as any to get together so now we all meet up there (almost) every time they go. my other grandma also comes with them now so it really is a reunion of sorts.
while I wish at times my family wasn't SO into vegas and we could go elsewhere together (and we still do), I am grateful that we can at least enjoy doing something together. i recognize it is a little strange to some people, but in my opinion sitting on a table playing let it ride together beats being at home with everyone doing their own thing.
so that's why I say "viva las vegas!"
note: I know this post was a little repetitive to my earlier one, but I wrote it before I remembered I wrote a similar one 7 years ago. but I guess this just shows how its kept its significance in my life.
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