1. Write about a favorite childhood hero or star you looked up to.
I survived Vegas! It’s over. I’m never going back to that cursed city…at least not with a child in tow. Last week I mentioned that the girls have an annual volleyball tournament in Vegas and this one with Laina was our grand finale. I got just as lost as I thought I would. At one point I strolled up to a map in the airport to find a Starbucks and it was literally directly behind the map. I don’t want to think about how many circles we walked in, but we did survive!
It’s amazing to me how different the experience is without a husband and additional children. During our vacations I am always the activity coordinator. I don’t let anyone get too comfortable in the hotel room and I always feel antsy to go do something. But on this trip, I would attend the morning volleyball games with Laina and then trek back to our room and never leave it.
Laina planned a couple evenings out with teammates for dinners and team bonding, but I looked out our window and knew I would not be partaking in anything Vegas has to offer. Even just walking through the hotel to the Starbucks in the food court was almost more than I could handle. The blasting music, bustling crowds, ringing slot machines, flashing signs, long lines…it is sensory overload at it’s finest and I skipped the coffee on more than one ocassion. Just look at this line:
I thought I’d be a little more fun for Laina, but turns out she didn’t really need me to entertain her at all. We did hop in an uber to a thrift store on our last night and once I stopped convincing myself the uber driver could kill us I had a great time! But really, what would I do if the Uber driver locked the doors and said, “I’d like to keep you young ladies for my colllectionnnn…” I thought maybe I could strangle him from behind and cause him to crash his car. It would be worth the risk rather than face our fate in a homemade dungeon he dug in his backyard. I could tell him we were microchipped under our skin. Maybe attempt to unlock the doors and jump from the car? Or I suppose call 911 since my phone was sitting right there in my hand as I watched the uber making it’s way to the thrift store on my map quite safely. Like I said, I’m not as fun as I thought I would be.
However! My afternoons in the hotel alone were spent watching Naked And Afraid marathons and Wrestling documentaries. I was thrilled when one of the documentaries highlighted the relationship between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. My siblings and I religiously tuned into the WWF on the weekends and I was highly invested in Hulk Hogan. He reminded me of my Dad with his blue eyes and big muscles. He always had positive messages for his little “Hulkamaniacs” and it sucked me right in. I distinctly recall the moment he and Andre the Giant became enemies and I was terrified that Andre was going to hurt Hulk. Andre the Giant was massive and I would cry and pray at night for God to protect Hulk Hogan.
Long story short, God protected Hulk as I requested and he defeated Andre. What I didn’t know, and what I learned in this documenatry, was that Hulk and Andre were friends. Andre was actually quite nice and he let Hulk keep his undefeated title when he could have stripped the belt from him. This was a full circle moment for me to see my childhood hero talking so kindly of the man that I once worried was going to squash him to pieces.
For this peace of mind alone I think the trip to Vegas was well worth my time. Plus I like the actual volleyball games. Not to mention the peanut butter and chocolate milkshakes from Johnny Rockets that happened to be in very close proximity to our elevator. Altogether I’d say the trip was a success!! But I’m still never going back.
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back to add your name to the link list below. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1. Write about a favorite childhood hero or star you looked up to.
2. Throwback Thursday: Choose a photo from a previous February and write a poem or a blog post.
3. Write a blog post about something that made you smile this week.
4. Book review!
5. Write a blog post inspired by the word: follow.
Claire S says
ME TOO. I have been a wrestling fan for a long time and the Hulk/Andre feud was such a big thing for me. That’s awesome you wrote about that.
John Holton says
Athletes tend to gravitate together, and while they might be enemies between the lines or in the ring, they form a strong bond off the field. They love the sport. Have you ever seen the movie “My Giant”? It was based on Billy Crystal’s friendship with Andre The Giant.
So, both you and Laina had a good time in Vegas, and you’re relieved that you don’t have to go back for volleyball. Sounds like a winner to me!
Patty says
Reading between the lines here, Kat….first…” I’m never going back to that cursed city…at least not with a child in tow.”…followed by…”But I’m still never going back.”
Me thinks you will, at some point in the future…go back, on different terms and likely with Pat close by.
But, honestly, I took one look at those lines of humanity….absolutely not for me either. I guess that’s why I’m not a fan of cruise ships that hold thousands of people, determined to crush each other and have a good time. If they don’t fall overboard, that is.
Mama Kat says
I’ve been curious about cruises! The horror stories about everybody getting sick scare me from going. I hadn’t thought about how crowded they might feel once you get going. No thank you!