Sadly, In Vegas

Casino at Our Marriott Hotel

Leah and Grade School Friends

Leah Making Rugelach Pastry for Tomorrow

Evie and her Sister Jean

I slept in till around 6:45 Vegas time, 9:45 Chautauqua time.  I was worried I might wake up much earlier.  I got dressed and walked down to the empty Casino, just a few hard core at the slots, black jack, and other assorted games. I went to the restaurant area, a 3.99 breakfast if you wanted, to a Starbucks, got two large coffees, for about the same price I would pay in Chautauqua.  Took  the Starbcuks back to the room, Evie was up, so it was back to normal, almost, sipping coffee, on our Mac or Ipad, but in a Vegas Hotel, not on the Strip but about seven or eight miles north.

Yesterday's plane ride was long, five plus hours, to Vegas, though as I mentioned, I was lucky with the roads, no ice or snow, to Buffalo.  The plane was packed, all of us like sardines in what seems like the ever shrinking air plane seat.  Fortunately, I did get an aisle seat though that does not help much because if I put my feet in the aisle, people trip over them, so  I don't.

My brother in law, Henry, met me at the airport, a good guy, so I did not have to wait an hour for my son Tommy to come in.  We went straight to the Marriott Resort, a combination hotel, spa, and casino, not far from my sister in law's house.  The funeral service for Evie's sister, Laura, is tomorrow at 4:00, so all the sister's have been planning the service, and getting food ready for the gathering at the house after the service.  The problem is, as always, no one knows how many people are coming, so you end up buying more than you need.  Perhaps we will eat it all.  We hung out the Mullens, then Tom and I went back to the hotel to relax. I was  really wiped out from not sleeping Thursday night, so I slept for an hour or so, not enough, but I did feel more energetic.  I shouldn't complain of this lack of sleep because this has been Evie's life for the past ten days, sleeping on couches, sitting up with Laura, helping her night and day if needed, all in a strange house, getting little sleep, always tired.

We all went back to the Mullens, for a dinner of Costco pizza, and sat around there talking with Leah and her two buddies from college, sipping wine, and getting things organized for tomorrow. Evie, Jean and Claire went off to the airport to pick up Elaine, the fourth sister, who was flying in from Chicago.  We went back to the hotel around 9:00 and  I went to bed but Evie and her sisters went off to the Casino to gamble for a bit.  A long day for me.