Pat Gallagher's Blog

 Day 1 of our Western Adventure. 

Suitcases are ready for our Uber driver. Fred has new mega luggage, one VERY LARGE suitcase, one medium suitcase, backpack, old school, and new school camera gear (did I mention Fred was very prepared).  I have one medium suitcase. Half of my suitcase is filled with art supplies for watercolor, sketching, pastels and special markers for “On the go Art” and snacks (just in case the western side of the country doesn’t have what I need). The other half of my suitcase is filled with clothing that I probably won’t wear. What is the proper clothing for traveling to 7 cities, 50 locations and multiple climate changes???? A carry on bag with my journal supplies so I won’t get bored on the plane or anywhere else.

Uber driver arrives. Luggage is loaded. Vegas here we come.

Philly to Vegas. The trip starts here and now, I need to get into the Western Vacation mode.  I love to travel, see and experience new people places and things.  I am very outgoing, to a fault, some might say.  But when it comes to my Art, it is the core of my being.  I travel for the love of it, but I am always in Artist mode. Much like any creative person, storing many thoughts, images, ideas for a later date to recreate a piece of Visual Art. 

So…….. how do I merge these ideas into Our Vacation? (AKA Fred’s teenage revival of his Family’s Western Vacation and my Art).

We arrive in Vegas late because our plane was delayed a few hours.  We pick up our rental car, pick up more supplies for our trip.  Cooler, more snacks, adult beverages. Off to our Hotel. We are staying at the Golden Nugget. I know nothing about Vegas, Nothing! I know nothing about the strip, old town, Fremont Street.  How do you choose a place to stay in Vegas?  Well….. 51 years ago Fred’s Mom, Betty, never got to stay at the Golden Nugget. Why you may ask? Well, the Golden Nugget was the hot ticket back then (remember there was No Strip back then).  Betty Donnelly was robbed of her dream, staying at the Golden Nugget, by a Family friend named Dick, who was also on Fred’s Western Adventure 51 years ago. So in Betty’s memory first stop Golden Nugget.

Well, apparently a lot has changed in Vegas in 51 years!

The Las Vegas Experience

First thoughts. Well, this will kill my Creative Juices! Never been to Vegas, nor a great desire to be there. People swear by Vegas as a GREAT Vacation Spot….go see shows, gamble, food is great, it is like the 7th wonder of the world. You won’t believe your eyes. Many family and friends who LOVE VEGAS have given us ideas, facts, tips, shared experiences and we also have Fred's itinerary and past memories of his trip 51 years ago! I am starting to be part of this vacation, not an innocent bystander.

     After a very very late dinner, we head out to Fremont Street about midnight. There is no need to sleep in Vegas, everyone is gambling everywhere in faux daylight. No windows, no daylight, no clocks.  Fremont Street…….how do I describe Fremont Street at midnight? I will try. My first visual coming out of the Golden Nugget at midnight onto Fremont Street is a short, very pasty, NAKED white bald man playing the Guitar in cowboy boots!!!!!!   Did I mention NAKED! You can only go up from there….I thought. 

     I have seen carnival acts, clown acts (Hell, I am a registered clown), freak shows in small towns but nothing can compare with Fremont St. after midnight in Vegas! 

That was the end of Day 1 in Vegas, no Art today…………….

Our Western Adventure started months before our departure date, as do many trips.  This trip was  different than most of my trips I have ever taken because I did not plan it, Fred did.  You may ask, "Why?"  Well, we were reliving, revisiting Fred's past family vacations out West, when he was ages 12 and 14 years old.  That being said, I was very ambivalent from the get go!  You may ask why? Well here are a few reasons that were in my mind:

-the huge list of places on our itinerary, (at the start of the trip, I think I counted about 100 places to see and go in 14 days!!!! YIKES!!!)

-The possibility of driving 3,ooo miles in 14 days! (on paper that is only 215 miles a day but everyone knows how that works)

-Fred's memory of his Family trip 55 years ago, (are you starting to hear the desperation in my voice yet?)

-Will I have time to Draw anything or are we just driving by each location on THE LIST????

-WHAT am I going to do in the car for all those hours!!!!!! (Oh course, Fred won't let me drive at all....)

-Will I have enough time in any one location to see anything, LET ALONE DRAW ANYTHING?????

-Everyone knows it is about quality, not quantity of locations.....at least that is how I plan my previous Art Trips.... does anyone hear sarcasm? 

-And here is a big one, I am not in CONTROL of my own time and space!!!!!

So as the "Western Adventure" approaches, I am getting more nervous by the minute. What do I do, I ignore that we are taking this trip!  Since I am not involved in the planning this can't be happening....right!  You know those trust exercises you do to get to know your co-workers, and there is that one individual who does not want to play with others.  Well that was me, sitting in the corner not trusting anything Fred was doing and not being a good co-worker willing to trust.  So not only was this trip Freaking me out, I am now having to look deep into my psyche.

Now mind you, WE have been talking about taking this trip for five years.  Did you notice I did say "WE".  Well, I was at least in the room or vicinity of the main speaker.  The "Western Adventure" is now coming into fruition.  Ten days and counting.  Fred is packed, I am not. Fred is excited, I am not. Fred is prepared for most anything, I am not. Fred can't wait, I can!  Five days and counting, more of the same.  Fred is really excited and wants to talk about the 1000 places we are stopping and seeing.  There are at least 50 maps on the table at any one time, that we have to go over together.  Remember I am still the untrusting co-worker in the corner.  Four days and counting, I guess I should start to think about what I should bring on this "Western Adventure".   Normally, I can pack very quickly, but since we are visiting 1000 places, what to pack has a new meaning. Three days and counting, I am getting hives, nausea, panic attacks, cold feet.  Two days and counting, OMG!!!!! One day and not counting anymore.  The 11th hour.  Really at 11:00pm the evening before we leave, less than seven hours before take off, I have a major MELTDOWN! 

Please look for my Blog and follow me, for the actual trip and pictures of our "Western Adventure".  I will be posting every 4 or 5 days to continue sharing our trip adventures and my quest to create Art from our Adventure.