Exit Stage Left

Because of the generosity of Mary and her dear husband, Mike, I am lucky to have flight benefits on Frontier Airlines, which means I can fly wherever Frontier flies for just $55 roundtrip. When Mike first added me to his "list" about a year ago I vowed to travel somewhere once a month. While I haven't quite kept up that pace, I have done quite well and gone to some of my favorite places to visit. I still have quite a list to be checked-off, but I'm getting there.

Last November my Mom moved to Reno to take professorship at the University of Nevada. Because of her specialized field there aren't many schools that offer her the opportunity to teach, so I was thrilled for her, even if I wasn't thrilled with her new digs. I've been meaning to go see her ever since she moved, but San Diego, New York, Chicago and Washington, DC always seemed more interesting than Reno. A last-minute obsession with getting out of town for the holiday weekend set in on Friday and Reno seemed like a logical choice, plus I was banking on the fact that Mom might float me the 50 bucks to pay for my fare, seeing as how I'm perpetually broke these days. So I hopped a flight on Saturday from the foothills of the Rockies, to the foothills of the Sierras.

I'm not a big fan of Reno, by any stretch of the imagination, but for the first time I realized how very similar it is to Denver. Both are at a high elevation, but have desert-like climates, both are tucked at the foothills of monster mountain ranges, etc. Denver is definitely better than Reno (and way more fun), but I came to understand how one might enjoy a Reno-like lifestyle, not that I include myself among them.

Sunday was very low-key. I slept in late, ate breakfast and then went back to sleep for a nap (that's my kind of vacation). I finally got-up about 4:00 and dragged my ass into the shower so we could go grab some dinner and walk around downtown for awhile. We decided to walk through the three casinos that are connected to one another: The El Dorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus. At The El Dorado we sat down and each dumped about $3 into the nickel slots and then continued through. Mom was searching for the "Megabucks" slot machines. They're the ones that are linked statewide, so if you win the jackpot you win big (The jackpot this weekend was just under $12 million). We couldn't find it so we went down the street to the Cal-Neva and it was right inside the door. Mom walked around the bank of machines, choosing the one that she was sure would pay big. I decided while I was waiting for her that I could afford $6 so I dropped the change into the machine next to her. On my first "pull" I won $75--and thus paid for my airfare, and airport parking. I'd say that's not too bad... even if it is just beginners luck.

Monday we decided to go for a drive. I've been wanting to get back over to Stockton for quite awhile, having not been back for more than five years. After hitting up the bookstore at UOP
for a much-needed sticker for my car window (I had one, but gave it up when I got a new car, and that was almost four years ago) we had lunch at my favorite fast food restaurant, Jack in the Box (it's a guilty pleasure, okay) and dessert at the campus haunt, Tiger's Yogurt (I have dreams about this frozen yogurt, it's that good). It was so strange walking across campus again. Made even stranger by the fact that it was July 3 and completely desolate, I think we saw three other people the whole time we were there. The campus has changed: they've built new buildings and crosswalks and broken ground on some new athletic facilities; it seems like the school is "growing-up" just like the rest of us, I guess, but at the same time the ivy covered buildings and the rose garden seem untouched. It was a strange experience, even though I can't quite put my finger on why that is. It was a trip.

After we'd done what there was to do in Stockton we headed back East and over the mountains back to the biggest little city. Mom wanted to take Highway 50 (the loneliest highway in America). It's a beautiful drive, up through Placerville and along the winding roads through the Sierras. It literally traces portions of the shore of Lake Tahoe, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, before descending the mountain range and dropping off into Nevada's capital, Carson City.

The trip overall was absolutely awesome. I can't remember a time in recent memory that was better, to be honest. I love all my journeys for different reasons, but something about this trip was special. Maybe it was the return to college and all that goes with that, maybe it was being with my Mom, maybe it was the spontaneity of it all. I don't know, but I do know that I can't wait to do it again.

Oh, and just in case you're wondering: the Jack in the Box was not kind to me today at weigh-in; I was up .8 pounds. Ah, well...the Sourdough Jack was totally worth it. :)