"Wedding Diary: Chapter Three"

c. 2006 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(11-06)



I had been to Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport many times, as a spectator. But never in pursuit of an actual flight. So the afternoon began with a promise of many new experiences. Liz and I were still giddy from our wedding in Thompson. But she fretted over my inexperience with airborne mobility. As we found our terminal, she squeezed my hand, tightly. "Here we go, honey! Are you sure everything will be alright?"
I must have reacted with an artificial tone in my voice. "It’ll be fun. At least you are familiar with the routine!"
She raised an eyebrow, seeming to detect my insincerity. "Okay… you know, this will be a short flight compared to visiting Europe. That one was really exciting, but long!"
"Someday, we’ll go together," I said.
"For our tenth anniversary!" Liz cheered. We had often discussed vacationing in Germany, and returning to places that she saw as a teenager. The Castle Neuschwanstein was a particular point of interest. Her familiarity with King Ludwig II of Bavaria was impressive. "It’ll be a fantasy come true!"
"Sounds great," I agreed. Joining the slow march of departing passengers only increased my anxiousness. A framed display of confiscated weapons provided temporary entertainment. But I wanted the initial experience to be over!
Our flight was on schedule, so the only delay in departure came from security procedures. Shoeless, and in shirtsleeves, I hobbled through a metal detector. Liz had cleared the portal without concern. Yet the gizmo started squawking as I passed through! My insides turned to Jell-O as an imposing TSA official stepped forward. "Did you forget to take a cell phone out of your pocket?"
I grinned. My hands were shaking. "Oh… yes."
She responded with a mixture of authority, and boredom. "Place it in a gray tub on the conveyor with your jacket and shoes, please!"
My face was red. "Sorry! I’ve never done this before."
Once we were on board our MD-88, it became apparent that the vehicle must have been designed by a group of mischievous dwarfs. I barely fit into my narrow seat, and overhead room was tight. Liz cuddled playfully, ignoring our shared discomfort. "Can you believe it? We’re marrrrried!" The flight attendants observed us with obvious amusement. Soon, they offered single bottles of red wine as a toast to our blessed union. We were not inconspicuous about being a newlywed couple.
When the airplane engines throttled up, my bride’s grip became more intense. "This is it, Rodney! Say goodbye to Mother Earth! We’re going to kiss the sky!"
I flashed on automotive competition, and science fiction adventures. The scream of jet turbines made me think of drag racing, on a planetary scale. "Just once, I’d like to stomp the gas pedal on something like this. What a rush that would be!"
Liz stared at me with sudden indifference. "An airplane hasn’t got a pedal!"
"That doesn’t matter," I said. "Just think of the excitement. Cranking up all that horsepower at once. United and Delta, going at it when the lights turn green! Get your wings up boys, and may the best plane win! Boinnggg! YOU ARE NOW FREE TO BURN RUBBER DOWN THE RUNWAY! Yeahhhhhhhh, baby!!"
Her response came quickly. "It’s true about men," she giggled. "You are all alike!"
We switched flights in Atlanta, finding a Boeing 757 more to our liking. The trip to Nevada was about four hours. I dozed lightly as the evening landscape passed beneath our window. And then, Las Vegas appeared from the expansive darkness! It glowed in harsh tones of white and yellow, like a giant electric maze. We circled the city dramatically, and then began to descend. My watch said it was after midnight, in Buckeye hours. But adrenaline quickened my pulse. We had frequently been told that Elvis could be found roaming the city. At last, I began to believe that he was still alive!
Liz held my arm. "It’s beautiful out here…"
We took a cab ride from McCarran International Airport to our Casino & Hotel, Palace Station. The Vegas ‘strip’ overwhelmed us with neon and super-sized architecture. Our driver provided an expert tour of local landmarks. "On your left is The Wynn, glowing of chocolate and gold. Then, The Venetian, with gondola boats in a private canal. Casino Royale with festive rooftops, The Imperial Palace, Harrah’s and the dazzling Flamingo Las Vegas, brimming with colorful birds…"
"Look at all that pink!!" my bride cheered. "Oooooh! Next time, we’ve got to stay there!"
I sighed. "Do you think they’ve got an oversized ‘gazing ball’ tucked away, somewhere? Or maybe a truck-tire garden? Even a giant set of beer-can wind chimes?"
Liz snorted with disapproval. "Hush! You’re messing up the tour!"
Our driver wore a grin above his dark suit, and tie. "On your right is New York, New York, with its charming reproduction of the ‘Big Apple’ skyline. And The Excalibur, looking like a fairy-tale castle… "
I frowned. "That settles it! We won’t find The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll here! It’ll be King Ludwig, instead!"
She didn’t appreciate my humor. "Stop being a poo!!"
Our cabbie continued with a smile. "The Luxor is a giant pyramid, with a beacon of light at its peak that can be seen from outer space. Then, the stunning Mandalay Bay…"
"The Luxor looks like a UFO temple designed to summon extraterrestrial life," I observed. "How far away is Area 51?"
Liz smacked my hand. "No more ‘Coast to Coast AM’ for you!"
When we checked in at the front desk, my watch read 1:30 AM, Cleveland time. It had been an exhausting day. Yet numbness made us immune to fatigue. After taking our luggage upstairs, we returned to the casino for refreshment. After all, this was our honeymoon!
The first day lasted twenty-two hours. We slept lightly, and went out again after sunrise. The weather provided atmospheric perfection for our visit. Every attraction seemed more fantastic than the one before. This continued around the clock. By Tuesday, we had toured fifteen casinos, and completely lost track of distance and time. Our only pauses were to enjoy a Beatles Revival show at The Aladdin, and dinner at The Sahara.
Though inexperienced at gaming, we managed to stretch a pittance of disposable cash into hours of fun and complimentary beverages. I tried to win a thirty-fifth anniversary Harley-Davidson Superglide. She gambled for possession of a convertible 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. Neither of us found lasting favor with Lady Luck. But the diversion from everyday thoughts was worthwhile.
During the final evening, we rode to Fremont Street, a district that offers Las Vegas history in a modern setting. The curved, rooftop ‘Viva Vision’ video canopy was truly amazing! Then, we marveled at luminous cowpokes ‘Vegas Vic’ and ‘Vegas Vicki’ who still greet visitors from around the world. A museum called ‘Neonopolis’ continued their theme with an array of impressive, vintage signs. More casinos filled the street with lively games of chance, including The Golden Nugget, Binion’s, The Mermaids, Fitzgeralds, The Las Vegas Club, and Four Queens.
Return visits to this Nevada playground seemed inevitable for Liz and myself. The attractions were incredibly varied, and tempting. I reckoned that pages of written material would develop from this single weekend, alone!
A farewell breakfast came in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Our schedule had us departing Vegas at 6:30 AM, local time. We ate while still in an emotional fog from the succession of life-altering experiences.
"You know, Mrs. Ice," I said over a Tex-Mex omelet. "We never did find the Man from Memphis. How are we going to explain that to our friends in Geauga?"
Liz looked drowsy. "I’ve got to admit being surprised. People at home say there’s an Elvis on every corner in Vegas. It would’ve made a good photo-opportunity for your newspaper."
I thought for a minute, while sipping coffee. "Next time, I’m using a fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich for bait!"
My bride gestured with her fork. "Thank yuh! Thank yuh verry much!"

FROM THE GEAUGA COUNTY MAPLE LEAF