Savor the Pineapple

During the summer of 1998, when I was a young thing of 19 years and about to get my braces removed, I was fortunate enough to go on TWO vacations to fabulous Las Vegas! The first with my dad and Gloria (we saw Howie Mandel at Caesars!!), the second with my grandparents. Taking my grandparents to my favorite city was a trip I will always cherish!

Grandma really wanted to go back to Vegas, so Grandpa and I took her on the condition that she let us push her around in a wheel chair. She was terrified when I was in the "driver's seat". I realized quickly that I just had to take charge and push through the crowds because the Strip isn't too accommodating to those in wheel chairs. I soon knew where the elevators and ramps were, so we made our way through casinos pretty well. Our only difficulty was on the public bus. Nobody wanted to move our of our way or help in any more. Right before we got on the bus a pick-pocket had just been arrested, so that was something for the our trio of innocent people from Oregon!

The main point of this blog is something that was said at the MGM Grand. We were there multiple times - at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant for yummy garlic mashed potatoes and Rainforest Cafe for the most exotic grilled cheese ever - with yummy pineapple as a garnish. It was at the Rainforest Cafe that my grandpa said something I will never forget.

Being in college about to turn 20 years old - Vegas is a hard place!! I had tons of fun, but at the same time I was seeing all the things I wasn't old enough to legally do. The object of my longing that year was Studio 54 (inside the MGM Grand). All I wanted to do was go in and dance! I wasn't wanting to gamble or drink, I just wanted to dance. Every time we'd pass the big "54" outside the entrance I would gaze at it and comment on how I couldn't wait to be old enough to go in. From our seat at the Rainforest Cafe I had a perfect view of Studio 54. I stared at it in a daze and said, "I really really want to go in there." Grandpa looked at me and said, "Now Ronnie, don't go wishing your life away!"

That simple sentence has stuck with me. We all wish to be somewhere else. When we're at work we wish we were at home. When we're at home we wish we were on vacation. I eventually did turn 21 ... and even then it took NINE years before I ever went into Studio 54. I survived. It didn't kill me to wait. I made it inside! Grandpa was right though - I didn't need to wish my life away. I should live in the NOW! I should have just stopped gazing at the big, glitzy 54, and instead savored my pineapple spear a little longer.

So from now on, I will continue to hear Grandpa's wise words, and do my best to stop wishing my life away. Whatever I want to happen, I can just be proactive and make it happen. All good things to those who wait. I'm going to be in Las Vegas again in less than a month. I won't spend my time wishing I was there. I will be there all in good time. So now I will enjoy where I am. Even when I am at work I will find things to be thankful for and just enjoy life while I am still here to live it!