I'm back to work today and much happier for it. I have one request for everyone out there, write an advanced directive for medical care for your family's peace of mind and to ensure your wishes are clear and adhered to, otherwise you will have others making this ultimate life choice for you and it might not line up with your heart's desire. Go to your local hospital and ask for a packet for an Advanced Directive and they'll happily give you one for free. Cost associated is the notary and that is it. We've officially cut all ties to Inola, and the only business left is to pick up a few items from the trailer that are mementos of our life there.
I feel human today, as I haven't since 9/4 when I found out on our way to Las Vegas. I feel so bad for my boyfriend and what he has had to deal with because I have been dealing with all this business.
So my Vegas trip, I'd like to write about that before the memories fade from all the hospital drama I dealt with over the phone on the way there and while we were there.
Shawn and I drove from our home in Helena, Montana to Las Vegas which was I-15 South for twelve hours. Five states. We left immediately after work Friday 9/4 and would return home as planned 9/7 at 10 pm on the dot as planned. Stunning, the views were breathtaking. It was a lovely drive, from what I can remember. We had planned to stop just past Salt Lake in Orem, Utah where we stayed at the lovely Hampton Inn & Suites; however I had only just been made aware of the situation so I don't remember much except that the room was large and clean and Shawn was able to enjoy a hot breakfast buffet the next morning. We drove on to Las Vegas and thanks to Shawn's status at Ceasar's we were able to check in early into our suite 2611 on the 26th floor overlooking the Strip. The suite was incredible and massive and had an ac that I was able to turn down to 55, and considering that's the temperature in Helena when I left, I thought it was appropriate.
The room had a floor to ceiling wall overlooking the Strip and city and desert, it was pretty impressive. The bathroom was size of my last apartment when I first moved here. All marble and his/her sinks and huge glass shower and a jacuzzi tub that would easily fit five people, no exaggeration. As you walked in there was a marble table mounted to the wall so you could leave your keys or whatever as you walked in, never seen that in a hotel before, as well as a totally separate women's make-up vanity. The mini bar offered the standard "and not so standard" items that would only cost you your first born. Shawn is a Vegas veteran so we stopped just outside of Vegas and bought Shawn's single malt scotch for half of what we pay here in Helena! If we didn't want to venture out we didn't have to because Caesar's has it's own mall, so it's like a city inside of a hotel. The pool area was the size of a small city and was as resort luxury as you can get, and if you wanted to hang out in the pool and STILL gamble, well you can do that at the in pool tables! Guess they really don't want you leaving the property huh? The food in the hotel food court was insanely expensive but you pay for convenience and not much else.
No shock, but I didn't gamble, drama not withstanding I just couldn't understand the point, and haven't ever been able to. I hung out in my mini apartment and enjoyed the ac and food delivery and handled the business with Nana from states away. On Sunday we went to Mandalay Bay Shark exhibit, and that was a lot of fun, I have a serious affinity for all things aquarium! Shawn made me two flattened pennies as keepsakes, can only find one so far, hoping Shawn knows where the other one is! We left early Monday morning and before heading home we went to the Hoover Dam, you MUST see it in person, and I am glad Shawn pushed me about going, because at that point I just wanted to get home, and I will grateful for the rest of my life for him having done so, it is not to be missed. I would've stayed for days if we could've, just like our trip to Glacier.
I was able to enjoy the trip home because I hadn't really "seen" it on the way there. Time past quickly. I had the most amazing time with Shawn when I wasn't handling business, and we are flying down in December to meet up with my Bestie Angie.
Shawn says I am spoiled on Vegas now because we stayed in such a nice hotel and room that anything less will be a let down. I have nothing to compare it to but mostly it was good. Most of the women looked like hoochies (not all though, some were beautiful beyond words) and a lot of guys looked like pimps (one group of guys though sporting Sooner gear stopped and high fived me because of my OU sports bag I was carrying) at some of the seedier hotels we walked by, and I didn't care for the people sleeping around the city or the vagrancy but it's to be expected. Sad though.
So after everything last week I've decided to pretty much become a vegetarian and really take care of my heart health, and well health in general. My life is as close to perfect as I can pray for, I have the job, the home, the man of my dreams; I'd like to spend as much time living this life as possible.
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."
He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."
