A Pandemic Move

 

Today I drove by a lady in a pink convertible with matching pink hair on Flamingo Road. She is only one of the many flamboyant characters who live in Las Vegas. This desert oasis attracts tourists who like to eat at buffets pre-COVID, drink, live big, and gamble. Paul McCartney recently explained why he would never do an artist residency in Las Vegas. Sir Paul said he avoids the city “because you only go to Vegas to die.” That made me think about my recent move here. I guess we chose to live here for the quality of life and not the opposite.

Unpacking boxes seem to consume our days and nights. We have a moving system down that seems to work after living on five continents. We open the boxes, unwrap the items, and sort them into three piles: ‘keep it, take it to the dump, or donate.’ When I make my daily run to Goodwill, the parking lot is full of customers buying each other’s treasures. Yesterday, a homeless man asked if he could have my big, red suitcase with a broken wheel as soon as I dumped it into the Goodwill barrel. I happily gave it to him instead. Then I took the remainder of our junk to the city dump which is free with our garbage company. They happily take our boxes, moving paper, and items that no one else wants. The dump employees know me now after going there daily and even three times in one day. I have learned how to back up to the cement barrier so that I can easily throw my belongings into the huge pile. There is a steam shovel that scoops up the mountain of discarded belongings constantly. Where is the landfill that it ends up in? It smells really bad and I have to open up the windows on the ride home. My husband thinks I secretly like going to the dump. I deny it but do get a thrill out of getting rid of stuff that we no longer need.

Leaving the dump yesterday, I encountered a homeless man sitting in the middle of the road going through his pile of ‘treasures’. He was oblivious to me as I slowed down and stopped my car. Then he got a big smile as he held up a wallet and limped to the side of the road. My car might have hit him if I wasn’t paying attention, but he didn’t seem to notice. He was living in the moment and happy with his reward. At the stoplight, another homeless man came out suddenly from behind a building. His hair was soaking wet with a bewildered look on his face as if the world had slapped him down. I wonder how hard stressful it is for the homeless to find food and a place to sleep daily. I think again of Paul’s statement that people come to this city to die.

A few movie theaters will open up next week in Sin City. They already opened some movies in China. I don’t know how I feel about it. Is it safe to sit in a theater and share the same air?  What if someone sneezes behind me? What if I cough? Will they come and take me away to the hospital? My teacher friends have new jobs in Vietnam where we used to work. They are in quarantine for a month before school starts. They have to stay in a hotel room and be monitored by a doctor and nurse daily for the first two weeks. Then they quarantine for the final two weeks in their new apartment. I wonder how they will feel after a month indoors in a new country with no family or friends.

My husband and I went on a nature hike yesterday while social distancing with friends. We wore masks and enjoyed the desert sun before it got too hot. We saw roadrunners and long-eared rabbits. We didn’t see any coyotes today but enjoyed the fresh air together. It lifted my spirits for the rest of the day. During these strange times, we see the importance of having something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. I guess I moved here because I do like to eat, drink, and be happy. I might just have to dye my hair pink, buy a pink convertible, and order a pink dessert with whipped cream on top to fit in. #StayStrong #2020pandemic