I took a trip to see my parents last month soon after we all realized that it had been 3 years since we last saw each other in person. It was surprising when I thought back to what had stopped me from visiting them and I couldn't come up anything.

I normally have a routine here at home, and since I'm such a particular person in regards to the kind of organic coffee that I like to use, the food I eat, the way my computer and office is, etc., I shouldn't have been so surprised at how freaked out I was that I going to TRAVEL!

I decided that since I was going to visit the woman who gave birth to me, and my Dad, that it would be fine to venture outside of my comfort zone.  I keep wanting to read that book on "Who Moved my Cheese" to find out if my behavior is a good thing or not.

The thing that I realized is that there is a certain comfort in just letting go of it all.

For instance, I watched the shows that my Mom watches regularly (she tapes them so we are spared the insane amount of commercials) and they were REALLY good. I don't have TV at home, and it made me think about maybe getting it again.  It's been such a long time since I watched TV; maybe the last series was Gilligan's Island?  I realize now why there is TV; it is just so darn relaxing to chill out on the couch and be entertained!
Just about everyone I know thinks Las Vegas is a weird place, and they think it's strange when I tell them that I enjoy Las Vegas so much.  Well, it's such a beautiful area to me...so much blue sky, the mountains, and the flatness of the ground which feels so good when I take my walk around their neighborhood.  Of course, there are THE CASINOS!

My mom said she wasn't going to gamble while I was visiting, but we found ourselves going out a lot and having a great time.  Being inside a casino is a bit like being in the state of meditation in that there is no time!  We spent hours gambling and having dinner and walking around.  And were surprised to see that we had gone in when it was still light out, but coming out it was after midnight!

People are so interesting to watch, and there is no shortage of them in Las Vegas.  There were more than a few women - older and younger - that looked like they were totally drunk.  But no!  It turned out that they were almost falling off their extremely high heels.  "Whore heels" is what I call them.  I just want to know, when did these become fashionable, and who wears them?

I really like the lights and colors that are in the casinos, too.

Our time here is so short.  This trip made me feel like nothing really matters except loving each other.  I am grateful and feel so much love for these two people, my Mom and Dad, who are simple, generous, and love each other so much after all these years.

They are from a generation before that value the art of conversation, that see no point in multi-tasking, that believe in doing the job right the first time.  They value what is fair, and still believe that customer service should be provided for by a company.
They are by no means the "Silent Generation" as they've been called;  they've seen so much and have so much wisdom in many areas that they should all be respected.  And loved.  And I can't wait to see them again this year!