Dr.'s Orders go on vacation and heal the circus within - rinse repeat -

Let's go back a year ago - so I can make sense - yes I know that is rare - but I will try to make sense of why on earth anyone would go to Vegas to heal. Twice. 

As I have mentioned before I had a horrific fall, all puns intended. Clearly this fall is right up there with Rome and the apple that hit Newton. Both crappy but enlightening. My first last fall was essentially the death of my existence as I knew it -  Rome - and this one looks like just plain ole death - thus the enlightenment. But Don't ask which one is better or worse - I never have been one for sarcasm. But I have been one for Vegas.

So  last fall as I lay fetal in the corner of the dinning room - weeping inconsolably at my fate, I could hear Liza on the lap top - then on the phone - then back on line - muttering about Celine Dion and dolphins. Then I heard the words suite, first class, casino host and Monte Carlo slippers. That got me on my feet.

As did that first class, world class door to door week long spa style soul saving smile making trip. Yes I said spa. Vegas can be hell - but it can also be heaven. It can nearly kill you or it can save you.

What saved me from myself  on round two was the people - and a magical creature named Cosmo.  This Cosmo was not shaken or stirred, but his playfulness with me shook the shame away and stirred in me a peaceful acceptance that does nothing but continue to grow. Cosmo is one of 8 dolphins that did yoga with me - and just five other people. Not in the tank - ew yoga with dolphin poo? No thanks. - But yoga under a giant glass tank with an instructor - Willow- who over the curse/course/coarse of 2 hours took each one of us out of our body then gently put us back in right side up and out. Yes please.

But here is where these chance happenings- and the whole trip gets odd - even by my standards. Of the five other people who showed up for yoga three of them had been beside for lunch us the day before. One of them was no better off than I was and her gals pals were trying to cheer her up. We had a great time chatting with them about all the things to do in Vegas, the great food and wine but none of them mentioned going to yoga. So you can imagine the look on our faces when we met the next morning at 7 am in yet another hotel to share in again in a healing experience.

In fact most of the people we crossed paths with that week all had a sad story, and warm smiles and faces that seemed all to familiar. So familiar. Some in that magical feline kind of way. So if you jump back some 60 days to the last trip to vegas, those cats were all still there. Of the millions and millions of people the thousands of folks who work in Vegas see - somehow - a handful remembered me - us by name.  But "You look different.." they said.

"Indeed.."  I said." I have cancer. But I am so glad I ran into to you. Oddly I was looking for you. I just wanted to say hello and thank you for making my last stay here so great!"

Suddenly I am hugging. Servers, casino floor staff. Peggy, Lily, Tara, People are wrapping their arms around me and filling me full of  love, wine and food - Fernando, Anne, The gals from Brand Steak House, Ashley - who stuck a flower up my nose,  Whitney the piano player, Allison from Banana Republic, all posed for pictures with me - And all in one day. Thus I am wearing the same yellow shirt in each picture. If the last stay was great this one was spectacular.

However, the most lingering picture is the one that shows up on my phone each day. Each day Lily from the Monte Carlo sends me a message of hope. And each day I am grateful and thankful for that love.

And each day I am also grateful and thankful that my friend Liana is not correcting my grammar. Or my syntax. Cause that sucks too.