Halloween in Vegas

…Otherwise known as the world’s biggest adult costume party. I am two days recovered from a three-day jaunt to Las Vegas and it was worth it. Fun. Have never laughed that much, consecutively, ever.

Rich was the Joker (the scary Heath Ledger kind), I was Bat Girl, Kristen was Twister (the board game), Ann was a sexy referee, and Farrah was a flapper. Halloween night, Rich stole the floor with gasps and stares as we walked out of the elevators in to the casino of the New York, New York hotel on our way to BOA Steakhouse in Caesars (a good recommendation from my soon-to-be-bro-in-law). He did his own “Joker” makeup and had the real flesh wounds flanking both sides of his smeared red smile. I was heckled at with “I’ll be your Robin!” (so not creative), Kristen was touched on left-hand blue and right-hand red (I think she liked it), Ann met her referee boyfriend bartender (what a cutie), and Farah flapped fabulously in her mini-fringe dress (although she should of gotten Colin’s digits).

I’d even venture to say that although CU, FSU, and the Broncos all lost their respective games this weekend, it didn’t hurt as much as it normally would have due to the previous, two-night adventures.

And, I’ll leave it at that as we all know “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

Lori, one of my blog followers e-mailed me the sweetest e-mail, asking where I’ve been for the last three weeks. I responded with the excuse of being a lame blogger, which is true. I have been absent, but it’s been a good thing this time. Lately, I’ve been so wrapped up in my life and have been pleasurably experiencing some extremely happy moments. Perhaps I’ve been waiting to “process” before I sit down to write again. So, thanks for checking in Lori (and motivating me). I do appreciate it. I am doing okay. In fact, I am doing better than okay. I am doing fantastic. Here are some reasons why:

1) Obviously, the Vegas trip.

2) My sister is getting married in a week and we are all jetting down to the Florida Keys to celebrate.

And, 3) I got my eight-part blood test results back in regard to my stroke and I checked out normal and fine. The blood test was the last hurdle of this whole recovery (aside from the emotional hurdle I suppose) and I cleared it with flying colors. What this means is that I do not have a blood clotting disorder, the Coumadin has officially left my entire system and I have no lasting effects, and I don’t have to get heart surgery. Could I be any happier? Could I of asked for any better news? I am on cloud 100. I still have my neuro’s message on my voicemail and I play it over and over again: “Hi Sara, your blood tests came back normal…”. (I’ll probably never erase that one.) My treatment now is one aspirin a day for the rest of my life. Hey, I can live with that. I can certainly live with that. I can happily live with that.

Although challenging sometimes, I really believe in the power of positive thinking. Sure, I can be hard on myself, a smidgen of a cynic, and self deprecating at times, but underneath…throughout my core, I have hope on most everything. I am truly, truly a lucky girl. I am very fortunate. It’s how you view your situation I suppose. Perspectives are important and, news flash, they are a choice. I choose to have a positive, open perspective (at least for today…hardy, har, ha).

A few months back, I received an e-mail from Ron Gardener, author of Take Brave Steps for Stroke Survivors and Families. He personally wrote some inspiring words to me and suggested his book for reading. As an avid reader, I ordered it right away. Ron’s story is a great one. He’s a young stroke survivor as well and prior to his stroke his profession was a motivational speaker in general. Now, post-stroke, Ron’s honed his motivational speaking toward a particular demographic—stroke survivors. He speaks to the positive thinking that I was mentioning above and provides great exercises to catch yourself in the negative and pull yourself back into the positive. I recommend his read to anyone that has been touched by a stroke (i.e. caretakers, family members, even friends). It’s a great reminder of how powerful thoughts are and a deeper insight into the bigger picture of life. Plus, he speaks to the emotional aftermath stroke survivors go through (are going through) and may help close ones understand the emotional highs and lows (outbreaks) better.

Well, I am off to take down my Halloween decorations and put them away until next year. It’s November now and another great set of ghoulish memories has been stored away. Tomorrow I will look forward to hosting a 2008 Presidential Election Results dinner with friends. Happy as a stumble bee… .

(Kristen, Ann, Me, Farrah, Rich--Halloween in Vegas 2008)