I felt like I experienced a microcosm of life over the course of an extended weekend. And it would make sense considering that it was the weekend of my cousin Jessica's wedding, and it was in, all of places, Las Vegas, NV.
It was truly the power of family bonds stirring in me that I would travel there to be present for this important moment of her life when she and Kevin wedded.
After tending to a few things at homebase, I departed Oak Park shortly after 2 PM CST on Thursday, November 30, 2023. (Please note that all times in this post are PST, unless otherwise specified.) I was at Midway Airport by 3 PM CST. I felt the need to decompress after going through the security checkpoint, and the airport chapel was such a fitting place for a few minutes of calm before going to the gate to board the flight.
I went by Southwest Airlines direct to Las Vegas. By the time the plane departed at 4:45 PM CST, it was past sunset, and the ride was dark. During the flight, I finished a book about the post office I had gotten as a gift, and rested. In the darkness of night, the lights of Las Vegas upon approach certainly stood out, as they would even more so than the average city. The plane reached the gate at 6:45 PM PST, and it wasn't too long before I exited and made my way to the ground transportation area to board the shuttle bus to the rental car area.
By 7:30, I was in my rented Kia Forte from Advantage--a very new car with only 500 miles on its odometer--and headed to my hotel, the Club Wyndham Grand Desert. Check-in was smooth, and I appreciated the professional and hospitable demeanor of those who got me settled. Once I got into my unit, I went to a nearby Albertson's for groceries, enjoying my conversation with the employee who rang up my purchase, and then started to settle myself down for the night in my unit. (Please note that, as usual, all photos in this post are mine, unless otherwise specified.)
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| Here's the view looking north from my hotel unit. Near the center of the photo is a bright light, which is the top of the Sphere. |
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| View looking northwest from my hotel unit window, including a Ferris Wheel and the Eiffel Tower replica |
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| View looking northeast from my hotel unit window |
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| View of the full moon over the pool at Tower 3, where I stayed at my resort hotel |
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| Here's the exterior of Tower 3. My unit is on floor 8, two windows to the right of the left-most edge. |
I was up around 6:30 the following morning, Friday, December 1. After a light breakfast, shortly after 8 o'clock, I departed for 8:30 Mass at Christ the King Parish, on the west side of Las Vegas, the first place I attended in my "church hopping" during my Las Vegas stay. While driving there, I discovered that Las Vegas driving is a bit of a challenge, but I still made it okay. The decorations for the Feast of Chris the King were still up in the sanctuary, and that made it fitting to go there this day in the week after that important Feast--please see the two photos below.
Following Mass, I stopped at a McDonald's before returning to the hotel. Then, I went to the Paiute Golf Course, as Jessica had invited me to the meal after the rehearsal. The venue was about 35 minutes from the Strip, well past the north side of Las Vegas. I got there by 11:30. After the members of the wedding party did their rehearsal, led by Jessica's amazing wedding planner, we went to the restaurant area of the golf course for lunch, which was like a barbecue, with hamburger, hot dogs, chips, fries, and salad. It was a great time being with my extended family. The windows had fantastic views of the surrounding desert landscape and mountains.
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| Rehearsal lunch |
Around 1:20, I departed for the next part of my day. I drove in a westerly fashion for about 2 hours to visit Death Valley National Park. After my hot day adventure there 2 summers ago, I was interested in visiting the park in cooler temperatures and spending more time outside. The late afternoon sun shone brightly as I drove from the east entrance by Death Valley Junction toward Furnace Creek.
And it got so mild down at the elevation of Furnace Creek, at 67, essentially jacket-less weather. After getting myself oriented there, I drove a short distance to Zabriskie Point, which felt closer to 60, and I watched the sunset. While the sun had dipped below the tops of the distant mountains, it was still lighting up the sky in a colorful way. I walked to an observation area, where a few others gathered to enjoy the view and get photos. There was also something mesmerizing about looking at the nearby landforms.
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| A very mild day at Furnace Creek, much cooler than my last visit |
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| The price of gas is still quite high in Furnace Creek |
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| Elevation Sea Level sign along California State Route 190, looking easterly |
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| A fellow visitor photographed me at the Zabriskie Point observation area in the sunset light, in exchange for my getting of a photo of her and her companion. |
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| The mesmerizing landscapes at Zabriskie Point |
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| Here's the sunset view looking toward the west at Zabriskie Point. Past the landforms in the foreground is Death Valley, which had water in it from the flooding rains of Hurricane Hillary back in the late summer. |
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| A little bit of color in the sunset |
Shortly before 5 PM, I started my drive east back to Las Vegas, arriving back at the hotel a little bit after 7 PM. Subsequently, I went to visit the fabulous lights display at the Ethel M Cactus Garden by the Ethel M Chocolate Factory. There was a great variety of images in the displays--please see the 6 photos below.
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| A fellow visitor with an Illinois connection photographed me in the lighted walkway. |
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| In the center of this photo is a polar bear, which reminds me of my teddy bear. |
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| The green light nicely illuminated the cacti and other plants near it |
On the way back, I got ropa vieja with yucca and yellow rice for dinner at Havana Express Cuban Restaurant, which is in the photo below.
The next morning, Saturday, December 2, I was awake at 7:15, with anticipation for today's grand occasion. Following breakfast, I headed out for my outing for the first half of the day. I drove north of the hotel to attend 9 AM Mass at St. Bridget Parish, to enter into a spirit of prayer for Jessica and Kevin. (It was telling that someone parked near me in the lot had a Chicago Bears image on the back of her vehicle.) The morning light filled the sanctuary so splendidly. There was a choir that sang at Mass, composed of local Knights of Columbus.
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| View toward the entrance of the sanctuary at St. Bridget |
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| View toward the altar at St. Bridget |
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| Our Lady of Guadalupe in the St. Bridget sanctuary |
Once Mass ended, I headed east and got on I-515, and then made my way south to I-11, and then on toward Hoover Dam. I got there by 11 AM. The access road from I-11 to the dam wound around the sides of mountains. I drove over the dam to the Arizona side and found a free parking lot. Then I walked back to the dam, back over to Nevada, which was also crossing into a different time zone. I was very impressed by the structure of Hoover Dam, and also the natural wonder of the mountainous gorge containing the Colorado River. And upon stepping in to Arizona, I completed visits to a string of states that stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific for 2023, which, in this case, is from Virginia to California.
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| Here's the view from the Arizona side, a short walk down the road from where I parked. The dam's towers appear toward the left in the photo. |
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| View of the Colorado River looking north, on the Arizona side |
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| View looking south, into the dam, with the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge above the Colorado River |
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| View looking east of the Dam, from the Nevada side |
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| Here I am near where I parked, with the view looking toward the south. The Nevada towers appear toward the right in the photo. Thanks to the fellow visitor who photographed me. |
Around 11:45, I got back in the car and started my return to Las Vegas. It didn't take too long to get back to the city. I exited I-215 at Eastern Avenue and drove north. When I saw a Don Tortaco location, I pulled over to get lunch, which was 2 birria tacos (in the photo below), along with some cucumbers that were offered as complimentary sides.
By 1 PM, I was back at the hotel, and I had my lunch. After some spiritual reading, I got myself suited up and ready for the wedding. It was a repeat of yesterday, following I-15 to US 93 headed northwest out of the city to the Paiute Golf Course. I arrived shortly before the ceremony began at 3:30. The officiant lead the bride, groom, and even Jessica's parents in several meaningful gestures. The ceremony lasted about 15 minutes. In addition to the standard vows, Jessica and Kevin wrote their own vows which they spoke aloud to each other.
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| Shortly after vows were said |
Once the ceremony ended, we turned the corner from the wedding ceremony area to an outdoor patio area for light appetizers and drinks, admiring the mountains and deserts beyond the golf course in the fading daylight, while Jessica and Kevin went out to pose for photos with the mountains as the backdrop. It was a nice time mingling among extended family there and the other guests.
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| Elvis, with the red accessory, entertaining the crowd at the appetizer reception |
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| View of the setting sun's light on the upper part of the mountains, off in the distance |
Shortly after 5 PM, we went inside the banquet hall. The wedding planner executed a fabulous arrival for Jessica and Kevin: They walked between the members of the wedding party in two lines, who popped open canisters of silver and gold confetti.
Soon after we got settled, the DJ gave me the cue in accordance with Jessica's request that I offer the prayer before the meal. I was touched and honored that she gave me the opportunity.
I was seated at a table with the Rubio family, including Fred, Cindy, Freddy, Ray, Micaela (Ray's friend), and Cindy Marie. Dinner started with salad, and then we had a buffet, with rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, vegetarian lasagna, chicken scarparello, carved whole roast New York strip loin, and a mashed potato bar, with the potatoes served in scoops in a glass like ice cream. There was quite a spread on the dessert table, with the customary cake (infused with honey), doughnuts, and red velvet cream sandwich cookies, with many desserts keeping the theme of the wedding's color scheme. There were also speeches from those in the wedding party and the parents, and they were all so touching and heartfelt. And as would befit a wedding celebration, there was dancing, and a wonderful time of it. The wedding planner staff handed out special light tubes. Later on in the evening, I danced with Jessica and she was impressed by my dancing abilities.
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| From left to right are Micaela (Ray's girlfriend), Ray, Freddy, and me. Someone in the immediate Rubio family likely took this photo while we waited to sit for dinner. |
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| Ice sculpture on the dinner buffet table |
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| The table where I sat with the Rubios |
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| The circular cardboard menu card on the plate |
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| My place setting |
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| I'm fairly certainly Cindy Marie, Jessica's sister, photographed me with Elvis before he left and we sat down for dinner, after Elvis quipped that my camera was something from the Smithsonian. |
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| Jessica and Kevin do their first dance to the song "Fly Me to the Moon". |
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| Jessica and Kevin offer remarks. |
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| My dinner plate |
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| The buffet is open for serving |
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| The wedding cake, infused with a touch of honey flavor |
Just after 9 PM, we got special bell sticks and lined up outside the banquet hall entrance to give Jessica and Kevin a fabulous send-off into a fancy hired vehicle to take them away for the night, complete with "Just Married" flags.
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| The car hired to drive Jessica and Kevin |
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| The wedding guests lined up to see Jessica and Kevin off for the night |
We then wrapped up our evening. I took Joe, Jesus, and Maria, back to the Luxor, and I enjoyed driving in the High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes. While stuck in congestion on the Strip, we saw the fountain and lights display at the Bellagio. After I dropped them off, I took advantage of a good gas price, with a cash discount, to fill up before returning to the hotel for the night.
I was up by 7 AM the next morning, Sunday, December 3. After breakfast and packing, I checked out with a feeling of satisfaction about the hotel.
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| Here's the view looking toward the southwest from a window near the elevators at the hotel. To the far right is the New York New York Hotel. Just to the left is the MGM Grand Resort, and to the left of that resort is the pyramid of the Luxor Hotel. |
I drove north to the Guardian Angel Cathedral for 9 AM Mass. I was eager to start the new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent. And to be at this cathedral was special because earlier in 2023, Pope Francis changed the Diocese of Las Vegas to an Archdiocese.
The cathedral building itself has a distinct triangular design, and that motif is present throughout the sanctuary, including the special cabinet for the sacred oils. There's even a stained glass window with images of buildings on the Strip.
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| Entrance of the Guardian Angel Cathedral |
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| Inside the Cathedral, looking toward the sanctuary |
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| Stained glass window with images of buildings on the Strip |
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| Inside the sanctuary looking toward the entrance |
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| The Advent wreath, with the first candle lit |
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| Exterior of the Cathedral |
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| View of the Cathedral looking toward the Encore Hotel |
It was a wonderful way to start the new liturgical year, and the rector, who was the celebrant at Mass, said it well in his homily about embracing the in-between time to become more aware and nurture joyful hope.
After Mass ended, I lingered to admire the sacred space. Then, I walked over to a nearby strip mall to browse a souvenir store, and then ended up getting two tacos for lunch at a nearby restaurant. And then I walked back to the cathedral parking lot and made my way south to return the car at the Advantage Office, arriving right about 11 AM to drop off my vehicle. A wonderful employee named Tyree expediently handled my return, and then took me in a shuttle van across the street where I soon boarded the shuttle to the airport terminal. I was delighted when Peter, the driver of the shuttle bus, engaged us in conversation about what we had done in the area, and he shared some highlights of what's nearby.
Once I got to my gate area, I spent some time reflecting on the Sunday Mass readings, and ate the two tacos for lunch, along with some dried seaweed I brought. I also watched Bishop Barron's homily for that Sunday and caught the opening of Advent Vespers at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as I stood in line to board the plane.
As the plane taxied, I could see sights along the South Strip nearby.
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| Toward the left is the New York-New York Hotel, looking toward the northwest |
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| Toward the center of the photo is The Sphere, toward the north |
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| Looking toward the west is Allegiant Stadium, home of the 2024 Super Bowl |
It was in the air by 2 PM PST. Down below, I could see the mountainous desert landforms. During the flight, I read a book by Bishop Barron and rested. I also enjoyed more AHA Blueberry-Pomegranate sparkling water. The plane reached the gate at Midway around 7:15 PM CST. It wasn't too long before I was off the plane and headed for the exit, where I met Terri, someone I collaborate with at church, who agreed to give me a ride back to Oak Park. I was glad to be back, and get a Buona Beef sandwich to celebrate the birthday of Illinois and to be at homebase to light the first candle of the Advent wreath.
Las Vegas has certainly developed a reputation, evident in the handful of people who asked me in the days leading up to my trip if I planned to gamble. I'm glad that during this trip, I was able to experience Las Vegas in a way that largely escaped the stereotypes.
Even spending just three days there, I got a good sense of the true character of Las Vegas. The view out the window at night demonstrated how ostentatious of a place it is, given how much is lit up. When I came upon the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, I realized I was looking at the Nevada scene for the computer game Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? and it was like a blast to my past. (Also as a blast to the past, I wore the same suit at the wedding that I wore at my ValpU graduation, and, since then, at other special occasions, including Confirmation Masses. For this occasion, it made its longest journey yet.)
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| New York-New York Hotel, on the northwest corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Tropicana |
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| MGM Hotel on the northeast corner of the same intersection |
I was glad to have opportunities to visit places beyond the Strip, like the December lights display at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory Cactus Garden and my timing was ideal to be there to see it. It was also notable to visit Las Vegas in 2023 with the recent change from the Diocese to the Archdiocese of Las Vegas. In that light, it was fitting to "church hop" each morning I was there, and there were so many splendid churches.
And while I didn't realize that the traffic patterns would make driving around a bit of a challenge, I definitely rose to meet it. Fortunately, I was super pleased overall with my rental car. I was also very satisfied with the hotel where I stayed.
There are so many wonderful places to spend time in nature that are in the larger region around Las Vegas, which was a significant part of how I spent time. And the name "Las Vegas" is a Spanish term that translates into English as "the meadows", offering a sense of nature. In fact, I was delighted that the venue for the wedding was far out of the city in a place where the mountain and desert landscapes were a wonderful backdrop.
And being with family was a wonderful part of this trip. I have good memories of visiting with Jessica and her younger siblings, at my grandparents' house on the North Side of Chicago and at their house in Oak Lawn for the fabulous parties they hosted for special occasions like birthdays and graduations, not to mention the nearby golf course. This trip was a chance to take it up a few notches and travel far to partake in a splendid wedding celebration. I like seeing how weddings follow typical customs while exhibiting unique elements that express the couple, and examples in this case would include the boots the groom and groomsmen wore and the grass component of the bride's bouquet.
The timing was notable because December 2 was at a nexus point of the conclusion of one liturgical year and the start of a new year. As each liturgical year winds down, the church's liturgy gives us opportunity to ponder the last things at the End of Time, and how we, the Bride of Christ, long for the coming of Christ. And we rejoice that God abides with us forever, a truth we recognize in the Incarnation, celebrated so splendidly after the end of Advent during Christmas Day and Season.
When I stood before the gathering to offer the prayer before the meal, I thought about the idea of God as Mystery, yet He reveals Himself to us, even deep in our hearts, and we rejoice in the ways that we can encounter Him so tangibly, like in this wonderful wedding celebration. I truly feel that participating in the wedding festivities offered a taste of Heaven on Earth, with joy to stir the heart.
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| Here I am at the Paiute Golf Course, during the appetizer reception. I'm fairly certain Micaela took this photo. |
