It is a Sunday night and although I am tired my wife is trying to convince me to do something I don’t want to do. Not that I don’t want to do it, I was just thinking I would do it tomorrow after a good night’s sleep. You see, it is not just any Sunday night.
My wife just threw me a wonderful surprise party for my 50th birthday, and the last guest just left. Now she is trying to get me to open all the presents that are piled on the piano in the wine room. One more time I try to convince her that I will open them tomorrow, and one more time she says, “oh come on, it won’t take long.” Of course, after all the work she put into today, how can I say no?
After opening about ⅔ of the gifts and cards, I open a card from my lovely wife. The card says something about it being my day so go wherever I want and enjoy the ride. Donna has handwritten below that a message that basically said I could not pick the “wherever” because she already chose for me and the plane leaves at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Looks like we are off on our next adventure! This 50th birthday surprise Donna had been planning was about to unfold, and I had no idea what was coming.
Wednesday: Off to Vegas
Wednesday has arrived and I know nothing more than I did on Sunday when I read the card. I am not even sure what to pack, since I don’t know where we are going or what we are going to do. I ask Donna a couple of questions about things I am packing and thinking of packing. She isn’t really much help! I try to watch what she is packing and go with similar items.
Our friend Kelli picks us up and takes us to the airport, she is not giving up any details either. As we arrive at the airport, I now know we are flying American Airlines as that is where we get dropped off. Once inside, I just follow Donna since I don’t know what else to do. The next thing I discover is we are flying first class, because that is the line I follow Donna into.
Checking In and a Sneaky Reveal
At the kiosk, Donna blocks my view as she checks in our bags and prints the boarding passes. We hear the counter call our names and we head that way. The customer service agent asks to see our boarding passes and IDs, which Donna hands her. She checks them and returns them to Donna, and then the next surprise appears.
The agent pulls out the luggage tags and as she attaches them to our bags she says, “checking two bags to Las Vegas?” Woo hoo, we’re off to Vegas. Or are we? Maybe it is a midpoint, maybe we land there before going somewhere else. Well, except, I don’t think they would tag our bags to Vegas if we were going somewhere else!
Bags all checked in, we clear security and head for our gate. I ask some questions trying to get more info, but Donna is still tight-lipped.
A Purple Heart at the Gate
We find seats at our gate and sit chatting, go figure, us talking. As we are talking, I catch a glimpse of a man sitting across the aisle from us. He catches my attention due to the hat he is wearing, a Purple Heart ball cap with his Marine Corps emblem and rank insignia. Being the guy I am, I stand and take the few steps across the aisle, extend my hand and thank him for his service.
The man immediately stood up and shook my hand, while saying “you must be a Marine.” I told him yes, sir, I was, 3rd battalion 5th Marines. He then shared he was Lima Company, 3rd Marines and served two tours in Vietnam, ‘68 and ‘69.
Then as he began to speak again, he pulled back the collar of his shirt to reveal a scar. He said, “we were taking a hill and got into sniper fire. I took one to the neck and one to the chest.” The tears welled in my eyes as I looked at about a 5 inch scar on his neck. “They were both through and through shots,” he says.
He then introduced his wife to Donna and I, and told us they were on their way to see one of their grandchildren. I asked if I could take his picture.
Once on the plane, we enjoyed our comfy seats in first class while we drank a bloody mary. The flight is so short that there isn’t much time for anything other than chugging one drink.
Guessing Games
Donna did ask me if I had any idea where we would be staying while we were in Las Vegas. I told her not really, my first guess would be the Wynn since it is our favorite, but then we have been staying at Harrah’s lately so maybe there. She is still not spilling the beans.
I don’t say anything, but in my mind I am speculating that perhaps others will be joining us. Maybe my brother and his wife? Or my parents? Our son Cody? Hmmmmm, should I ask her?
Arriving at the Palms
After landing in Vegas, we make our way to baggage claim and collect our bags. We start walking toward where the signs are pointing for a taxi, but hesitate at the sign that says “private cars and limos.” A brief conversation, and we decide to take a private car (it is my birthday, after all.)
We walk outside and inquire about pricing. We agree and a car is called. The driver loads our bags and we get in the car. As we are buckling up, the driver asks “Where to?” To which I reply, “I don’t know.” The driver has a very perplexed look on his face as he turns to look at me.
“It is my birthday and this is all a surprise to me.” The driver thought that was pretty cool, as Donna tells him we are headed to the Palms Casino. Oh man, I didn’t even think about the Palms! Another surprise revealed.
VIP Check-In
As we walk inside the front doors of the Palms, Donna asks if I know where VIP check in is located. I do, as when I was on our 2 Fat Cats in an RV trip with Chris, we went into the VIP area for check in. (You see, our connection to the Palms is a very good friend and fraternity brother of Chris’ is a big wig here.)
I hold the door so Donna can enter into VIP. Just inside the door there are some comfy chairs and Donna tells me to have a seat as she goes back to the desk to check in. I even take a picture of her up there checking in while I just sit back in the chairs all by myself, not checking in, not knowing what she is up to.
It doesn’t take long and we head up the elevator to our room. Donna has gotten us the Ivory Suite, the same room we stayed in the time we stayed here for Cody’s 21st birthday. It is a sizeable suite with a powder room and living room, a bedroom and bathroom. Lots of windows with great views.
I now know we are staying until Monday so we take some time to unpack some of our things and get situated in the room. We decide to rest a bit and catch some of the world series game that is on. Donna’s phone is going crazy but it has been doing that for a couple weeks now leading up to the surprise party she threw me a few days ago. I doze off and on but I think Donna just answered messages and watched the game.
Dinner at Nines
It isn’t long before we realize we are pretty hungry and head down to Nines, the steakhouse right there in the Palms. We enjoy an amazing dinner with a great bottle of wine. I think during dinner, she almost has me convinced it is just her and I for the long weekend. Almost, that is. I still have that sneaking suspicion others may show up.
Bubble Craps and a Familiar Voice
Oh my gosh we are so very full. We sit chatting and enjoying the ambiance and each other for a long time, before deciding we needed to get up and move around before we no longer could, haha. Walking around the casino, we check things out, scoping out what machines or tables we might want to play. The Sons of Anarchy slot machines catch our eye, so we settle there.
We probably played for about 45 minutes or so, before deciding it really wasn’t paying much so we wanted to try something else. We walk around a little more and decide on the “bubble craps” game. The official name is Shoot to Win Craps, but we call it bubble craps. There is only one available seat. Donna tells me to play and she will watch until a seat opens up.
I have been playing for about an hour when all of a sudden there is someone extremely close to my face and I hear a voice say “Are you winning any money?” I am not quite sure if I recognize the voice right away since someone that close to my face throws me off more.
I turn slightly toward the voice to see Cody standing there, and right behind him Michael. See, I knew it, I was right, there will be other people here! I stand and give hugs. We chat for a bit and the boys says they are going to check in and get settled and then come back down.
All the Way From Virginia
I return to the bubble craps game and about 45 minutes later I again sense someone super close to my face and hear a voice say “Are you winning anything?” only this time it is a female voice, and as I turn to my right I see Donna’s good friend Valerie and behind her, her husband Dave.
I stand and we exchange hugs. Turning to Donna, I tell her that she is playing a different game! You see I had suspicions that others might be joining us, but never would I have guessed that Valerie and Dave would come all the way from Virginia! Now I am back to not knowing what to expect.
Cody and Michael join us and we all get a snack in the food court. We eat and talk for another hour or so before deciding we are all ready to call it a night. I can hardly believe the surprises so far as we head off to bed. I wonder what she has planned for tomorrow…
Up next: breakfast, a poker room, and an emotional reunion 30 years in the making, in Chapter 2.