There’s more than one way to hit the jackpot in Las Vegas.
It takes a minute to get in sync when visiting Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
New time zone, adopting the odd tempo and vast, mirage-like sense of spatial relationships that come with the desert territory and all of these lights. The abrupt change of daily routine amid the sensory overload that’s the hallmark of this town, several high-energy rodeos and the cultural family reunion where being ON, nimble of mind and fleet of foot is vital.
I’m no rookie, but mostly I’ve stayed in hotels that are in the heart of ‘rodeo central’ where everyone around you is in that mode. This time, we’re at Circus Circus ... one of the oldest, weirdest and cheapest destinations in the city. The guests are very multicultural which I happen to love. Lots of charged up kids in a truly circus-like atmosphere in that all of the in house vendors are barkers.
“Come see, Lady! Come here! I give you free gift!”
I sat awhile this early morning by the Krispy Kreme place, scalding my tongue on bad coffee and drinking up the 6 a.m. casino people. I saw a black family of cowboys just in and somewhat lost in all of the dazzle. I overheard old friends discussing horses in the same way coffee shop discussions are held all over the world.
“I wouldn’t take a million for him or give a nickel for another just like him.”
A family group from Missouri laughing about being NFR ‘virgins’ and deciding that Las Vegas, especially the north end of The Strip, wasn’t the place they wanted to use that particular terminology. Young cowboys who had forgotten to sleep and didn’t care. Young cowgirls enjoying the fact that in this town, you can never be overdressed or too outlandish in style. Old hands just proud to be here one more time to experience that big groundswell of heart when the house lights go down and the energy in Thomas & Mack peaks with anticipation come full circle.
I guess the point is, it doesn’t matter if you’re rodeo royalty or have scraped what you have together just to be a part of this magical transformation. We’re all here because our hearts demand it. We’re here for the love of the culture that goes far deeper than the game. We’re here because this time of year, there’s nowhere else we’d rather be. We’re all here on a kind of pilgrimage of passion, and isn't that the only denominator that truly matters?
