Headed to Vegas (the longish way)

by Jeff · September 24, 2015

Rotini-poker.com and I headed out of town pointed north.

Most of you will say “where’s the Phoenix story”. This is not so much about Phoenix as just using it as a map reference for folks not familiar with the area. I had exchanged a couple texts with an old friend who lives in Chandler, a burb of Phoenix, and on the way north we set up a “dinner date” at Five Guys burgers. It was a good stop, as we had not had dinner and only a mile or so from her house. We chatted a bit and caught up a bit but then it was time to get moving again. Well we got in late to the Hampton hotel next door to the Talking Stick casino in Scottsdale, dumped the bags and got into a poker game for a bit. I walked out a small winner and we hit the hotel for some rest.

A little more nostalgia before we make it to Vegas though…….

When I was a kid we moved a lot. My dad worked for Bechtel as a welding engineer so we moved every year or so and we lived all over the country. Well, I turned 13 in what was a little town called Buckeye, just west of Phoenix. Buckeye was one of those towns that was a desert oasis of about 15 square blocks. This was the town that I had taken up band, truly learned to enjoy reading, got my first job and had some great memories from.

So with R.P.’s patience and indulgence, we took a little side trip. I recognized nothing about the drive out…..it has grown up so much and the freeways are monsters. We hit a sign saying Buckeye city limits about 10 miles east of what I remember as being town. Housing developments where I remember cotton fields. We finally hit what Rocky said was the main exit into Buckeye (of six exits?). Another mile south of the freeway and we find a sign pointing to “Old Historic Buckeye “…UM….REALLY?????

I recognize nothing till we hit the very center of town. The chamber of commerce is in the old town hall and right across the street is the gas station where I got my first job (anyone remember the young man that would come out and pump your gas?). I hang a “U” with The Beast and pull over in front of the chamber. R.P. and I walk in and of course the conversation begins…How can I help you? I’m looking for where I lived as a kid. Remember the street? Nope (but I describe the house, who we bought it from and what it looked like). Clerk looks at me and says how old are you? I reply and she says “You lived in this house and it was this color and I am the same age”. We talk about my working at the gas station across the street and she calls a second woman out of the office whose father built the station and then sold it to Virgil (my boss). We reminisce about the size of the town, old friends we had in common (rest in peace John Sweeney). Also a deep loss was the person who helped hone my love of books, Kay Blanton. She was the librarian at the Buckeye library. She was killed in her library one afternoon by a dirtbag (if you want to know the story, Google it). Rest in peace Miss Blanton.

After what seemed like ages chatting with the women at the chamber we get back in The Beast and R.P. says to me “wow, how can a place be that so small that 30 plus years later they knew who you were and where you lived”. I agree but also felt it somewhat comforting that some people stayed where they grew up. We drove by our old house and stopped. I chatted up the not too chatty guy on the porch and secured permission to photograph the outside. We went by the old church we attended and then it was time to head north.

I pointed The Beast outta memory lane and we blasted for Vegas. Stopped in Wickenburg for lunch (would you believe roundabouts in this little old cow town). And into Vegas by 4 pm.

Checked into the condo, got everything moved in and groceries laid in for the stay. Whew, relax and hold up for the next 10 days. The pool is literally just steps from our second floor digs. We have stayed here before (Max and Tom visited with us here 2 years ago).

And this catches me up to where we are right now……