Dateline Dayton –A week ago Friday, Pauline, my sister, her husband and I boarded an airplane on the first leg of our journey to the Grand Canyon.

We arrived in Las Vegas at midnight, got our rental car and proceeded to our hotel, the Four Queens. After checking in and getting our luggage to the room, which turned out to be a really nice suite, we went down to the casino, where I spent what was left of my winnings from the Kentucky Derby.

The staff at the office put me in their Derby pool for my birthday, and I won. I told them prior to the race that I had the winning horse, and I was right. I did treat them to doughnuts, so there wasn’t much left of my $20 winnings. I was able to lose it quickly.

I was even going to share that Las Vegas win with them. Now after my horse also has won the Preakness, I might have the office “bookie” place a $2 bet on the horse for the Belmont Stakes.

On Saturday, we started out at 9 o’clock with breakfast at the hotel. Then we headed for the Strip, stopping first, though, at the Pawn Shop. Fortunately, we got there before the crowd so that we could leisurely walk though the shop. Pauline and Susan were amazed at how small the store was. On television it looks so large. I bought a few postcards. Pauline found a beautiful silver bracelet, which I purchased for her as a Mother’s Day/anniversary gift.

Now we were on our way to Mirage where they now have a Silver Strike machine. Bad idea, driving to the Strip. We couldn’t find a place to park since it appears all the casinos garages are for hotel guests only.

We took the car back to our hotel and boarded a bus, which turned out to the best choice. Now we could move around freely. Once at the Mirage, I played the strike machine for a while, winning a few times. On to Hooters for lunch. We wanted our wives to see what we do when Willie and I are in Vegas on our own.

After a late lunch, we headed back to the Four Queens; all of us appeared to have the same idea, a nap. Once rested, Willie and I walked over to El Cortez. They have Silver Strike machines again. Our wives were going shopping and we agreed to meet at 9:15 in front of Hennessey’s Tavern, where we planned a late supper. I won the three strikes that were in the El Cortez machine, and we were in front of the restaurant before the set time.

We walked Fremont Street in the evening, observing the character population along the way. We stopped at a couple casinos before returning to the Four Queens, where I had Pauline play one of their five Silver Strike machine. She won a few strikes for me.

On Sunday, Pauline and I attended church. Back at the hotel, we met Susan and Willie for breakfast. We drove a few miles out of Las Vegas to Red Rock Canyon, did the thirteen-mile canyon drive and then visited Bonnie Brook Ranch for a late lunch. On the way back to our hotel, we made one casino stop.

Since it was Mother’s Day, the women picked Sunday night’s restaurant, the buffet at Main Street Station. We walked Fremont Street again before retiring for the night.

Next week: The Skywalk.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net