Lessons Learned in Vegas!
As most of you know it’s been a long winter here in Winnipeg and I work out of my home, which can make for long days when you aren’t leaving your home for days. I could have been a bear and hibernate winters, but I find getting away to some sun and heat helps make the winters bearable!
One day a few weeks ago, my husband and I decided to drop into a neighborhood travel agent to see if there were any deals to somewhere warm. The agent talked to us about Old Vegas and Freemont Street. We’ve been to Vegas numerous times but had never stayed downtown or experienced Freemont Street. And the deal she offered, I don’t think we could have stayed home for that; but maybe I just needed some sun and heat!
All I can say is Freemont Street does need to be experienced and you kind of see it all there. Just when you think you have seen it all, you see something more bizarre. Freemont Street is a 3 block covered destination with 3 stages where the entertainment varies from an Elvis impersonator to indie bands. A zipline through the middle, food and drink through out. Where else but Vegas can you find a burger joint call The Heart Attack Grill that the burgers are named after the number of bypasses needed and there is a scale outside the front door that people actually step on; because if you weigh over 350 lbs. you eat free. Picture my face as people were cheering when they got to eat a 9,000 calorie burger for free.
We loved the weather, the sites were great, and just wandering around all day people watching was great. I learned Americans smoke a lot more than Canadians, that Canadians and Europeans are more alike in food preferences, that some people need to know their alcohol (and sometimes) food limits. That KISS costumes don’t look good when done with a G-string, and that people actually pay money to have their pictures taken with oddly dressed people. But the biggest lesson came at a musical.
My husband and I decided to go see Menopause the Musical. Now don’t laugh, some of us, cough cough, are right in the middle of it and so by association, is my family. We had heard it was hilarious and a must see. As we arrive at the theatre we are told to be sure to have a sweater as the theatre is very cold. We enter and take are seats and sit down beside a trio of retired ladies. We exchange “where you froms” as all do in Vegas and they tell me they are there for someone’s 90th birthday. I look around and I don’t see anyone close to that age and I think they are teasing me. So I ask who’s, and the lady in the centre seat proclaims, with pride it’s her. Now understand me. They are dressed in jeans, runners and t-shirts. They all look between 65-70 and there is not a walker or cane around. Oh yeah, and did I mention they walked from 3 hotels over and each have a cocktail in hand! I am so intrigued that I had to talk to them, after all people’s health is my job and I just have to know more about these outgoing ladies that are partying in Vegas.
I comment on how wonderful they look and ask for their secret to such an obvious full life. The 90-year-old, who also happens to be the leader of the party, comments that it’s all in staying moving, and that if you grow old in your mind, your body will grow old with it. I agree completely. I have vowed to never quit life, as I get older, I might not do as much, but I am still moving and having fun. In fact, I think more fun. We had a discussion about age and how some people believe we have to stop working and their whole life is looking forward to retiring and what was the point of retiring to do nothing. I think I might drive everyone crazy if I didn’t stay busy. My husband and I agree. We might be middle age(ish), but in our hearts and minds we are still 25. These wonderful woman are living proof that it can be done; living a vital, healthy, fun-filled, medication free life till the end.
The other secret she shared with me is that she got herself a dog, and her dog was a great contributor in her keeping going. As I too have just gotten my own dog a couple of years ago. All the other dogs were the kid’s pets, even though my husband and I were the ones that took care of them. I understand how my dog has been so good for me when I don’t really feel like going out for a walk in the winter, but I do it for her. We both agreed that being needed was also part of the youth serum.
By the way, not one of us ladies found the theatre too cold and Menopause the musical is a must see for all woman over 40. In fact, I think at times my husband laughed harder than me, which got him the look. I guess that’s the 3rd ingredient to a healthy long life: LAUGHTER, and those wonderful woman I met were doing just that.