It's Lonely out in Space....

"Captain, we're running out of power"

I had my 46th birthday in Las Vegas, yesterday! I made the trip down, across the desert with my three young children in a '78 Toyota Motorhome. The trip was fun, but once we hit Vegas, I just couldn't get my wind up. I enjoyed a nice time with my Father for a late lunch and then joined up with additional family(Brother Garth,Niece Jessica, Nephew Gabriel and his wife Therese, and My Step-Mother Barbara) for an early dinner. Then off to a friends house to settle kids and contemplate my Milestone in Sin City(My Hometown, actually). So many options, So many memories! I have thrown Toga Parties, Huge Keggers, I've chased my share of thrills and adventures. My Birthday is a reason to CELEBRATE!!!!
In the end, I laid down feeling old, tired, and blue.

I debated the options and found that I was enjoying having someone else keep my kids busy while I enjoyed some peace.I didn't feel like taking my motorhome to the casino and figured I'd rather have that hundred bucks in my pocket in the morning than donate it to the casino.
I used to celebrate things like this with my brother, but he isn't talking to me right now. Life goes on. I did get a call from a long-lost, recently-found friend who happened to remember that May 13th was special for some reason, and thought it might be my Birthday(no FB notice). I also received about 50 "Happy Birthday's" from my FB family. Always appreciated! I got a camera from Dad, and help for the trip from Mom. I got cupcakes from Felicia(with help from the girls)
Best of all, I got flowers and cards and kisses and the birthday song about 4 times from my very lovely daughters. I also got some rest(much needed, I guess).
I want to bemoan the lack of dancing girls(who all want to bed me), the Power Powders that used to make me feel like a Rock Star, and the Party that featured my favorite bands playing tribute to my birth. But this year, Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll took a pass. They had prior obligations! Or maybe they were right where they always are, and I just never showed! Pretty lame effort for a birthday bash in Vegas!
I will say that Vegas for me isn't Vegas for most others. It is my hometown and is more akin to memories past than the "VEGAS, BABY" most think of. This is the town of ghosts for me. Hotels no longer standing, rights of passage long past. Favorite spots now changed forever.
Am I done? Am I past my prime? Is that all she wrote? I tend to think that this must be Half-time. I have finally landed smach dab in the middle of Middle-age. It was a time to reflect, relax, regroup, and with a pep-talk from the coach get ready to re-emerge out of the locker-room and take the field for the second half of the game. I don't care what the scoreboard says. I'm gonna give it my all and see this game through to the end like a champion.
So Happy Birthday to Me! Thanks to all the well-wishers. And thank God for benching me during the last play of the first half. I have a feeling I was getting ready to hurt myself.
Now, Let's play ball!!!!!!