Las Vegas

Our friend Ron decided to celebrate his birthday in Las Vegas this year. About a dozen of us joined him and Marita at the party. It had been a long while since Jeff and I were last in Vegas. Despite being a full-blooded Chinese, I dislike gambling tremendously. There is, however, more to Vegas than gambling, and I usually enjoy my time there.

Marita was her usual generous and mothering self, constantly making sure everyone was fed and entertained. Consequently, every meal was a production, and every evening an event. We went to two shows, one of which the famous Phantom. This being Vegas, the staging of the show is out-of-this-world extravagant. Everything was lavishing to the extreme. I've always loved the songs in Phantom, and for weeks afterwards, couldn't get the tunes out of my head.

After days of gourmet food, fine wine, and ceaseless lights and sound, we stumbled out of the city dazed and fatigued. What a crazy place!