A few years ago, at a previous company, our team moved to a new building and we now shared space with other teams. We were asked to fill out this little ‘get to know’ you form that would be attached to your cubicle as a conversation starter.

The questions to answer were:

Name:

Department:

How you like your coffee?

Tell us something about yourself:

My answer to the last question was – I have been to Las Vegas 19 times. Boy oh boy was that a conversation starter. Everyone wanted to know why would I go to Las Vegas 19 times. Off the cuff I would say, why not, or I would go more if I could afford to go now, or I want to stay in every hotel on the strip and beyond.

My very first time to Vegas was for my 21st birthday. The friend I was supposed to go with had to change her plans at the last minute, and I had to find someone to replace her. I did, but she wasn’t really a friend of mine, the trip was okay but nothing memorable.

Thankfully I was working in a travel agency, and Las Vegas used to be a very reasonable three night trip. I do remember a time when you could eat three meals a day there for under $20. You could also find $1 Blackjack, which was a bonus. I remember reading ‘the book’ on the plane to Vegas and sitting at the table and trying to remember all of the rules. Everyone is a professional when they play for a $1 so I was always getting great advice (insert eye roll here).

Over the years, it was always fun to go to Las Vegas with people who had never been before. Walking through the themed hotels, on the strip, in and out, pennies in the slot machines. I always loved watching friends faces while we were on final approach when they looked out the window and saw this larger than life scene appear in the dessert. You had the pyramid of Luxor, the New York City Skyline, and at the time the worlds largest hotel MGM with its huge lion and green windows taking over the view. The excitement was palpable.

I do remember a certain night (October 23, 1993) sitting in the sports book at Caesers Palace beside a Phillies fan who got up to leave in top of the 9th inning because her team had already won the game. When Joe Carter hit the home run and the whole bar was screaming and I was jumping up and down all I wanted to do was find that lady and torture her with my enthusiasm. On the flight home the next day, the flight crew left out all the local Toronto papers for us to see how the celebration looked at home.

It wasn’t until years and many trips after that, that was I were during another world series. This time it was October 2003 and it was Florida Marlins vs. New York Yankees. This story I have shared many times, but yes, in search of $1 black jack and found a friend for life. Funny how that happened, but it did.

It has now been nine years since I have been to Las Vegas. The urge is there, but not in the current state that it is in. Many serious gamblers that sit at the tables could care less if they talk to anyone, but for those who are there for fun, there is something to be said for sitting with Plexiglas in between the spots that just doesn’t do it for me.

For now it will be all of the great memories of the past trips that will need to keep me going until we can return to travelling.