Living in Las Vegas

As I sat here wondering what to write next, a thought popped into my head. Another year, nearly over, living in Las Vegas. It was New Year's Day and I looked at my calendar, realizing I hadn't put up the new one yet. Just two more months and my tenth anniversary would be here. Already! Then the thought, would I still make the same decision to move to Las Vegas knowing every sordid detail I know now? Hey, now that's a good topic!

Some days it seems like I have always lived in Vegas. Other days it feels like I am new all over again. Like a foreigner from a far distant land. This happens because Las Vegas is ever-changing. Not only her landscape, but the people who inhabit her also.

When my daughter and I moved here in 1997, I came ahead of her to get us set up. Fortunately my mom and an old family friend both lived here already. Between them they knew the basics to help me get started. This was a deciding factor for choosing Las Vegas. There are plenty of stories all over about making a fortune in Vegas and brings most dwellers here. Personally, I just wanted a new start for us and to be near family and friends; whether it was Las Vegas or Podunk Iowa. No offense meant to anyone from Iowa!

My daughter, Danielle, was insistant that if she had to move to Las Vegas it would be once her Freshman year was over. My mom was insistant I stay with her until I went back to get my daughter once school was out. Thinking It would give me a place to stay while looking for a job and an apartment, plus I would have time to acclimate my daughter better. Without too much more thought, I agreed on both ultimatums to make everyone happy.

Talk about weird moments in life! Picture this: You're 36, parent of a teenager yourself, have not lived at home since you were 17, managing life as an adult. You have survived some rotten apartments in crappy neighborhoods and a**hole boyfriends, nursed chicken pox, asthma, etc. Made it through two years of college while parenting a toddler. But you know you need to provide better for the future so......