Catch up on Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 before joining us for the 50th birthday surprise at Stripburger.
Another Surprise?
Friday morning I wake up wondering “Could she still have more surprises? Is this everyone?” It is all so overwhelming I can’t imagine what else there could be. We are showered and ready for the day, well after asking if what I have on is appropriate. I have no idea what we are doing or where we are going!
Downstairs, we head over to the cafe. Grabbing a muffin and coffee, well, tea for my lovely bride, we run into some of our group at a table in the cafe. Once we have our food, we join them. Some have already eaten, some order something but we all have great conversation.
Slowly people, couples, groups leave the table and head off to either finish getting ready for the day or do some gambling with a plan to all meet near the front doors at 12:30 p.m. Another surprise?
I am not sure where or when my wife has time to coordinate all the surprises that are happening, but can I just say wow again. She must be exhausted.
A Party Bus and a Stripper Pole
Boarding a party bus limo greets us at the front doors. We are all on board when Shawn and I spot the stripper pole. Oh, you guessed it, we had to make use of that right away!
The 50th Birthday Surprise at Stripburger
As the bus pulls up to a stop and we begin to unload, I realize where we are: my favorite lunch spot, the best burgers in Las Vegas and cheap beers, yep, Stripburger!
Larry, Leslie, and Hayden
Having exited the bus, I am standing around while Donna and Chris talk to the driver and everyone else is getting off. I happened to glance in front of the bus, and a thought pops into my head. You see, the young man getting a suitcase out of a taxi reminds me a lot of our nephew Hayden.
The group is ready to walk around the corner to the restaurant. I am beginning to tell Donna about the young man I saw. Just then, we all run over the people who were getting suitcases out of the taxi. Much to my surprise, it registers with my brain that is my brother-in-law Larry standing there! Oh my gosh, and there is Doc, aka sister-in-law Leslie, and THAT IS HAYDEN! How cool is this. Their flight just got in and they are joining us for lunch.
Penny, Fatman, and Jake
We all continue on and make our way up to our reserved area on the patio. As people start taking their seats, I spot Peter and Laurie Nerat sitting at one of our tables. Another awesome surprise. I am trying my best not to ignore anyone, hugging and chatting with the most recent arrivals as we all take our seats. We have a special menu for just our group that says Happy Birthday on it.
People have begun ordering their drinks and trying to decide what to eat when in walks Penny. Penny and I have been friends for more than 30 years, we go way back. She lives here in Las Vegas now, but she had posted on Facebook that she was headed to San Diego this weekend. She is good!
Old School Friends
As I am chatting with Penny and introducing her around, Fatman walks in. Fatman aka Robert and I went to school together in Nebraska! This is just unbelievable. I am not sure I remember what I ate, but I did have a few beers, 32 oz PBRs are only $6 here.
As we are placing our food order, Jake appears. Jake is Chris’ friend from college and the one who hooked Donna up with group rates for everyone staying at the Palms. We very much enjoy Jake and getting to spend time with him. It’s a pleasure seeing him show up for my birthday.
All I can think of to say is WOW. I remember relaying to Jake that this group spans my entire life so far: family that has been around since birth, friends from grade school through high school, my military days, my adult life during the military, and after, all the way to recently made friends.
It is Friday, so several of us are wearing our R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed). Several of us have served our country, so there are tons of pictures being taken. The food was good, and I know my wife probably agonized over the menu so that everyone would be happy. That’s just the person she is. But the friendships stole the limelight. What a great time.
An Afternoon at the Wynn
Slowly, little bits at a time people begin to leave. Some are headed back to get checked in at the Palms, some are heading off to meet friends, and some are headed home to take care of kids. Others are going sightseeing or to do some gambling. A small group of us head over to the Wynn across the street.
Donna and I love the Wynn and we love to gamble there. Not everyone would have been able to come, or come for as long, if she chose to stay there this weekend, Donna realized. So we venture over to enjoy the ambiance and do a little gambling. Donna and I played a new to us slot machine that was Aladin based. It was new and fun and exciting because Donna won a couple hundred dollars!
Robert and I checked out the craps tables, Chris and I checked out the blackjack tables, and Donna and I played more slots. Our small group dwindles down as couples head back to the Palms.
Melanie, Mom, and Family at the Poker Table
We decide we should head back as well and hook up with some of our group sitting at “our” booth in the lobby bar. We are drinking and laughing and conversing with friends when Chris suckers me into joining him at the 3-card poker table.
Long story to that game, but it was against my better judgement to play that game, and it proved me right again. Taking a time out for the restroom, I see some of my family that I hadn’t seen yet on the way back to the table. I decided not to ruin the surprise, not to ruin whatever they have planned as their way to surprise me. So I take the long walk and look the opposite way, to get back toward the table I was gambling at.
Almost to the table, I hear my sister Melanie say, “Oh hey.” Looking up, I’m surprised to see my sister and her husband and my mom along with my niece Jennifer and her daughter Evelyn.
The Dodds Arrive
We exchange hugs as they explain they are starving and headed to find somewhere to eat. Back at the 3-card poker table with Chris, I hear laughter from the bar area every once in awhile. I turn to see what kind of fun our group is having over there without me.
It is during one of these glances that another surprise arrives. Turning to look at our group over in the bar, I see John and Laura Dodd coming toward me, almost at the table I am at. Another amazing surprise.
Guess Who
I stand and hug and chat for a little bit and they head off to join the group in the bar. Shortly after that, someone has placed their hands over my eyes. Reaching up, I touch the hands and say “Hmmmm,” to which I get no response. I feel the hands and say “It’s a lady,” to which the hands nod my head up and down in the yes motion.
I feel the hands again and say “It’s a married lady,” to which again my head is moved in the yes motion. “Is it Penny?” This is so totally something Penny would do. This time my head is moved side to side in the no response.
I am not getting any closer to knowing who it is, and the dealer is probably a bit peeved about now waiting for me to place my bet. I grab the hands and pull them off my eyes while saying, “Hey, I need to place my bet.” There stands my little sister and her husband. Again, wow, so happy to see them.
At this point, I cash out and go with my sister to join everyone in the bar area. Michelle and Jeff say their hellos, but head off to find dinner with the rest of my family.
Late Dinner and a Birthday Cupcake
It is late, and we all realize we haven’t had any dinner. Donna walks over to the asian restaurant to ask if they can accommodate all of us, as I think there are now 20 who are hungry and wanting to eat. Not sure if it is a good sign or bad sign that they can get us all in.
Shortly after, we are all seated, in walks Debra and her new beau Nick. Hugs and introductions all around. I remember thinking, I wonder if Deb and Nick will be comfortable down there. There are so many of us, and it keeps growing. They end up at a weird angle at the end of the table next to people they really don’t know.
The food was pretty good and it definitely satisfied our hunger. During our late night dinner, there is someone approaching the table with a cupcake with a lighted candle on it. Everyone at our table is watching, when I realize it is our friends Todd and Karla! They already ate, but wanted to say Happy Birthday. Oh my gosh, this is so unreal, so many friends. Todd and Karla don’t stay long, and we all return to our dinner.
Saying Goodbye to Shawn
After dinner, many of our group calls it a night and heads off to do their own thing or turn in for the night. Shawn and Cynthia, along with his sister and brother-in-law, are saying their goodbyes as they are catching an early morning flight. I can’t believe Shawn was actually here. I am so blessed by getting this time together, and now he is leaving already.
I will miss them the rest of the weekend. I do hope we can hold true to our promise to see each other again soon. At this point, Donna tells me she is toast and done for the night. I remind her that my sister Michelle is on her way down to meet up with us.
Donna tells me to stay and enjoy some time with my little sis. I ask her if she is sure? Does she want me to walk her up to the room? Nope, all good, she will take the elevator up with Chris and Rachel. Most everyone is gone, some say they are coming back down, and John and Laura say they are going to gamble. I wait for Michelle to arrive.
Mexico Christie
Michelle and I each get a drink and we walk the casino floor. We are just chatting and checking out the casino, looking at the different games and slots. We’re keeping an eye out for John and Laura. After about our second pass of the casino floor, we still haven’t found them so we take “our” table in the lobby bar.
As Michelle and I sit and chat, there is a loud group at the bar. Michelle leans over and says, “Hey I think that is Mexico Christie.” I respond with, “I knew that girl at the end look familiar, that is Christie’s daughter?” At this point they realize we are looking at them, and Christie stumbles over toward us.
In her drunkenness, she is loudly telling me, “Tracey Hayden if you don’t drink this shot for your birthday you are an F’ing loser!” Yikes. Before we can drink the shots, one is spilled all over Michelle. I drink the remaining shot in hopes to keep things quiet and respectable. Shortly thereafter, Christie and entourage left the bar.
An Ear Flick from Lumm
I have now probably told Michelle that I was going to bed 3 or 4 times. She insists I must stay up and spend time with her. Another half hour or so goes by and I figure out why she is so insistent on keeping me down here.
From over the wall behind me, suddenly someone is flicking my ear. I turn and there stands my good buddy Lumm, the big stinky Lummox, Mark. Reaching over the wall, I hug him and he comes to join Michelle and I at our table.
Lumm and Michelle hug and chat briefly when Michelle turns to me and states she is off to bed because she is tired. I reply with a “No way, I stayed up for you.” She responds “Haha, this is the only reason I stayed down here, waiting for Lumm,” and off to bed she went.
Mark and I remained in the bar another hour and a half or so before we drunkenly called it a night. I enter our room and try to be as quiet as possible because my lovely wife is actually asleep! Good night all.
Up next: the blindfolded walk to the Palms Kingpin Suite, in Chapter 4.