Sunday, May 10, 2009

24 Hours in Vegas And Not One Minute Longer

I'm not really a Las Vegas person, but a couple of weeks ago Piero told me he had to go there on Mother's Day weekend and why didn't Luca and I join him? We could fly in Saturday afternoon, have dinner together and then Luca and I could go see a show. In the words of my husband, "It'll be fun. We zip in, we zip out, nobody gets hurt." Neither of us gamble, so it was hard to argue with that logic.  

4pm Saturday (T minus 22 hours)
This time, we stayed at the Four Seasons which bears zero resemblance to the Las Vegas I've previously visited. The lobby was hushed and casino-free, the air was verbena-scented and the vegetation was lush and subtropical. And no, I don't want to know what their water bill is.

The first hint of danger came when Luca found this waiting for him in the room. Even the sign was edible.

He turned to us with dilated pupils and said, "Can I have my birthday here?" (Breathe. Relax. Breathe.) In the bathroom, the mini robe, children's toiletries and alphabet sponges which spelled out his name only further convinced him that we'd been grievously holding out on him for seven years. 

7pm Saturday (T minus 18 hours)
That night, when Piero left to go see his show, Luca and I went to see Cirque du Soleil's "Mystere." I swear he didn't blink once the entire performance. 

10pm Saturday (T minus 15 hours)
After we returned to the room, he stood on his little cot and gazed out at the sea of lights, utterly hypnotized. I kept thinking, all those summers in Europe and this is what sticks? Oh, Lordy.

9 am Sunday (T minus 4 hours)
We woke up late-ish and went down to the hotel restaurant to check out their famous Mother's Day buffet. As soon as Piero and I saw the table of children's food, we knew Luca would be a goner. It was a Roald Dahl fantasy on steroids: tower after tower of mini cheeseburgers and Rice Krispies and cones of french fries and cakes and brownies and rainbow-colored Jello. We realized we needed to brace ourselves for the possibility that someday our son might very well be moving to Nevada. 

Here he is, out of his mind with delirium after having ingested a truckload of food. 
My smile is masking my fear.

Noon Sunday (T minus 2 hours)
After brunch, it was nearly time to leave for the aiport.  Of course, Luca was panicked by the thought and kept trying to push Piero down the hall back to the hotel room.

In an inspired moment, Piero remembered the old "I'll time you" routine and raced him to the elevator. Before Luca knew what was happening, we were in a cab on the way to the airport and back to the safety of Hollywood, California.
Deprogramming starts tomorrow.

20 comments:

Lee said...

What a brilliant 24 hours in Vegas! Thanks for sharing.

pve design said...

viva las vegas and your boys!

Mary said...

The photo of Luca in front of the window says it all - kinda looks like a mini Dean Martin from the back.......you'll fix it. Happy Mothers' Day to Remember

A Super Dilettante said...

It looks like a great Mother's Day to the whole of your family. I love the picture of you and Luca. It captures the happy, intimate bond between you and him.

Susan's Snippets said...

Lisa -

I am so glad that I never took my children to Las Vegas at the impressionable age as your Luca...I could have seen my son and daughter - similiar to running away to join the circus "back-in-the-day"...leaving home very early to once again seek the bright lights of Vegas...like a couple of birds wanting only shiny things.

bling blings

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti said...

Susan: Exactly, my dear! EXACTLY!

jezebel said...

Do not abandon hope! It is entirely possible that the enchantment was solely the Four Seasons. My brothers and I were ready to make a From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler style parental escape and spend the rest of our years by the Four Seasons' Grecian pool in Philadelphia. Many years later, we all three live very happily in New York.

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

with Luca often featured, I've thought- he could be a star. This might be his first taste of name in lights via chocolate and robes. You did say he is a big Adam Lambert."danke schoen" fantastic fun post. mother's never rest.

Mrs. Blandings said...

I really love Las Vegas for 48 hours. Then I am ready to crawl across the desert to get out if I have to. I have a friend who lived there briefly when her children were very small. She told me, "I'm always worried my daughter will say 'I have a thing for sparkly dresses; I don't know why.'" They don't discuss it.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Las Vegas...I haven't seen it since it morphed into a megahotelaropolis! My parents lived there in the very late 40's before I was born and I have cousins who were born there and live there still, five decades later.

My childhood visits were nothing like Luca's....maybe that's why I never felt it pull me back time and again!

Glad you returned unscathed to the safety of Hollywood, CA.....but doesn't Hollywood have its own dangers? But who am I to say that; I only live a few miles away myself!

Your post was fun to read. Thanks for sharing the Vegas experience.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Who knew Hollywood would be the safer choice?? Sounds to me as though Las Vegas has found a way to get the parents to return! Intoxicate the children!!

Julie Anne Rhodes said...

Did I die and go to blog heaven?

I was rolling on the floor laughing when I saw Luca's welcome message, the buffet described as "Roald Dahl on steroids" has me positively inspired, and I ADORE the pic of you and Luca...talk about capturing the moment!

Then jezebel mentions my all time favorite book... The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler! It most definitely WAS my dream to run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, sleep in a Louis XIV bed, and discover the long lost provenance of a priceless piece of art! If it is any solace...I never did, so I seriously doubt Luca will be dealing blackjack anytime soon. Although, I still might...

...and thank you so much for adding me to your blog roll!

erin said...

ew. i hate vegas, though it's been ages and from what you write it has changed a lot. I'm certain my kids (hubby included;-) would freak with joy from the willy wonka-ish excess. I'm thinking the long provencal afternoons and italian coastlines will have more meaning as he grows?! And if not, he'll always have Vegas...

JMW said...

You've been tagged with an "Awesome Award."

Bart Boehlert said...

This post is a riot -- I have never been to Vegas... And lucky you looking into Italy and Slovenia!!
BB

Brillante Interiors said...

Hi, I just discovered your great Blog via a comment on PVE. I will visit regularly to read more stories. P.S. I always loved Las Vegas (three days maximum)for shows, a little gambling and the unreal atmosphere (no clocks there and day and night are just one time zone). Ciao, Albarosa

LIBERTY POST EDITOR said...

You are a fortunate woman...surrounded by love and happiness. Thanks for sharing! (p.s. they are lucky too...to have you!)

Scarlett Fiona Reed said...

I just found your wonderful writings through Pamela Terry at the house of edward and very much enjoyed reading your posts! Thanks for the diversion :)

Style Court said...

Always such a treat to stop by Lisa. I can't get enough of your observations and humor.

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