Author: Dawn Nakaya (Orange County, CA, USA)
Website: Click here
Photo location: Las Vegas, USA
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Categories: [innocence]  [reflection]  

My memories of Vegas go back quite a long ways. The earliest took place in the summer of 1979. I was five years old and I took a road trip with my mom and brother. The image that sticks was stretching my feet across the brand new white vinyl back seat of my mom's shiny new burgundy Dodge Diplomat. It was a hot day and I could feel the sun beating down on my head through the car window. It seemed like the longest road trip of my life.

You're maybe wondering why a mother and two small children are driving to Las Vegas. You may be surprised by the reason. In the 70's there was a lot of free thinking going around. I am a product of just that. We were on our first trip of many to Las Vegas to go to a religious seminar. Yes, to the "City of Sin" to go worship. My mom was and still is a very unique being. She is what you might call new age (crystal healing, meditating, etc.) thinker.

We arrived at the MGM hotel, which is currently Bally's . The original MGM burned down in the 1980's. That year the seminar was held there. It was pretty crazy to think that there were so many people that were a part of this organization. I remember the name tags, sincere hugs, smoky hotel smell, brainwashed blank smiles and the anticipation of the events following.

While the adults congregated to the main room, I was shuffled off to the kids room for my age group and my brother to his. We drew pictures of their supposed heaven, sang songs and cried for our mom's. I hated that place. This went on for three days.

After our enlightenment we sat down for a tasty meal at Sambo's diner. I was appeased by the stuffed animal tiger that my mom bought for me to thank me for my good behavior. I would have been much happier to have been sent off to a normal Christian church.

Even though I wasn't taught in the normal ways, I thank my mom for the open-mindedness. That was a gift that I did acquire and hold dearly.

This old hotel and the town it is a part of brings back some strange days that will stick in my head forever.

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