Out with the old

I woke up this morning around 2:30 A.M. I knew something had woken me so I laid there until I could figure out what it was. Pop, pop, pop, this is what had awoken me. We had our bedroom window open and this sound was drifting in from across the valley. I realized what it was, I also realized my husband was now awake listening. I told him, they are imploding the Frontier. He asked if I knew why, I said oh you know "out with the old, in with the new".

I laid there and listened to this pop, pop, pop, for what seemed a long time. It was in fact only a few minutes. I could hear dogs from a great distance barking. I was amazed at how far the sound had traveled but even Vegas quiets down at some point. The pop, pop, pop ended and another sound followed. The building falling, it reminded me of a large animal laying down. I imagined what the dinosaurs sounded like as they laid down their death. Then the dogs stopped barking and everything got quiet. I felt a great sadness at this quiet, a deep loss.

I remember when the Desert Inn was imploded, and the Landmark and others. Always out with the old in with the new. This is sad in a way. No more of the Flamingo, the hotel Bugsy Sielgel purchased in the 1940's. The Sands, the Silver Slipper, hotels owned by the Late Howard Hughes are now also gone. The hotel and casinos that had some of the greatest performers are now gone. When Las Vegas celebrated its 150th birthday in 2005 they had a hard time finding memorabilia for it. Well no kidding, we get rid of all our old buildings, and things as fast as we can. I find this sad. This is not my Las Vegas anymore, I miss the old. I used to love when we drove past the Desert Inn, it had a huge golf course and was surrounded by trees. I always thought it would be a great place to play. A child sees everything as a chance to play. Out with the old in with the new.

I finally dozed off, but in my mind I started thinking of another question that has been asked a lot in our family.

North or South, go or stay.