Rewriting History...

About a dozen years ago, I went to a seminar in Las Vegas. My hospital sent three of us to learn more about the then-current trends in nursing management. It was held over a four-day period in the middle of June.

Most of my expenses were paid: hotel accommodations, seminar fee, and plane flight. All I had to do was buy what food I ate. Staying at the MGM Grand, for three nights, an airline ticket, and the seminar fee amounted to a sizable sum of money.

I wasn't the only person sent from Podunk General Hospital; there were two other nurses with me. And both of them were accompanied by their spouses. I was the only one traveling alone. Each evening, after the day's sessions, I would go to the McDonald's in the hotel, buy my supper, and take it to my room to eat.

A friend of mine, at work, suggested that I go to the Rainforest Cafe, in the MGM Grand. So, one night, tired of having hamburgers and fries, I decided to check it out. The line waiting for a table was clear out into the lobby. The last couple in the line told me that they had been told it would be at least forty-five minutes until they would be seated.

In short order, my nerve was gone. I no longer felt that I wanted to wait in line to sit by myself and eat supper, no matter how much fun the restaurant might be. And so, another Happy Meal happened. I felt defeated but, I thought I put it away and didn't let it eat at me.

As it turns out, all these years, I have harbored a niggling thought about that time, so long ago. I was alone. No one else was alone, in my mind, and it made the whole trip more difficult. I had a spouse, at the time, and I had asked him to accompany me. He said he didn't like Las Vegas. I think it was me he didn't like.

And all these years later, it still bothered me.

While I was in Chicago, I saw another Rainforest Cafe, near our hotel. It brought back thoughts of that time, long ago. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to squeeze a meal there into the time I would be in Chicago. And, at that point, it wasn't decided yet if I would even be passing through Las Vegas on my way back to Podunk.

Well, I did.....pass through Las Vegas.

And this past Wednesday night, about an hour after arriving in Las Vegas, I was in the Rainforest Cafe, with a friend, enjoying a delicious meal and all the sights and sounds that make that place so special. Screeching monkeys, roaring tigers, trumpeting elephants, slithering snakes and shooting stars kept me amused and delighted.

The food was delicious, Logan was an attentive server, and the company was superb. Was it the best restaurant I have ever been in? Was it the best food? Was it all that I hoped it would be? No. No. And yes.

It was a sweet victory: the former memories have been overwritten by new, much better ones.