Take off your hat, I want to stand up.

Chapter 48: Vegas.

Chapter 48: Vegas.

Vegas, Baby.

My mom wanted to go to Las Vegas. She yearned to be out and about in the desert sun and in the casinos. We all had addictive personalities in our family. It did not take long until the habit bit hard on all of us in some way. Ev loved the track, the ponies as she would say. We did go to the races when they were in town.

She would haul me along with her to catch a race or two, when the thoroughbreds were running. She had a betting strategy that defied reason or logic. She would go to the paddock area before the race, she would wait until one horse looked her in the eye.

It had to be a knowing look, not a casual look, it had to be a winning look. Ev felt the horse was communicating with her on a visceral level. Hey, Ev, I am going to win, bet on me. She would, the horse would run well and the gambler would holler the horse home, come on number seven, one time. She was more lucky than anything, but it worked for her.

Me, on the other hand, held an uncommon talent for picking the 99-1 long shot. The long-shot never wins. I just love the odds. In one race I recall the longest of all long shots blasted from the gate, at the turn he was a full 20 furlongs out in front, at the half he had increased the lead. By the time he passed the grandstand for the first time he was 35 furlongs out front. I could not believe my luck, I started to dream of the winnings, Ev said, wait. I was doomed. On the final go round the field had passed my nag, by the time he got to the far post of the home stretch, the jockey actually got off of the horse and walked him kindly back to the stables. I thought, Dusty, how did you get here. Ev, naturally cashed out a winner, see, she would say.

She would go to as many Rough Rider games as the weather permitted. Not too hot or sunny as it was not too good for a quad. She could not get cool, if hot. If she stayed in the shade, she would be too cold, it was some exercise in getting it just right. I took my dear son MacKenzie to a few games and we would always say hi to Gainer the gopher and try to look up my mom on the sidelines where the wheelchair accessible people had a good vantage point.

She wanted to go to Vegas, she bought seven tickets for the plane. Next, she booked three or four suites at the Venetian and went to Vegas. She took members of the family, my brothers or sister and two nurses. The nurses would do the heavy lifting as far as her care represented. However, in between time she would have them pull the lever, flip the button, throw the dice, hold the blackjack hand. Everyone was treated like grand royalty by the hotels and their well trained staff.

Ev did not go to Vegas just the once, no sir, she went ten times. It was her time to shine. She so looked forward to the trip that once she came back she wanted to plan the next trip right away. She needed to have something to look forward to, and she did. She adored the action, loved the bright lights. Admired the attention. She drank in the moment. She made it fun