It all started last spring, when I found out HIMSS16 was going to be held in Las Vegas on the same month I was hitting a major milestone: the big 4-0.
“You should come with me!” I said to Dan, half-jokingly, thinking he’d laugh it off. But no sooner did the words come out of my mouth did his wheels start turning.
“We should go,” he said.
I’m not sure how serious we were at the time, but when I mentioned it later to my sister Chris and she immediately expressed interest in going, an adventure was born.
It was something we all wanted — and needed — to do. Our lives get so consumed with work and responsibilities, and we needed to take time out for fun. Instead of taking care of the kids, we needed to be kids for a few days.
So five of us — Dan, my brother Steve, my sister Chris and her husband Tom — made a plan. Flights and hotels were booked, babysitters were lined up (my wonderful parents, who drove 3.5 hours north to take care of my twins), and requests for days off were submitted. And for the past few weeks, while we went about our everyday lives, we knew we had something fun to look forward to.
As the trip edged closer, the theme became clear: YOLO (you only live once). And so although we did make some plans, the idea was to explore a new city, try different things, and embrace this unique opportunity to spend time with each other and celebrate.
I’m happy to say it’s exactly what we did. Dan and I went on a gondola ride (something I regretted not doing last time I was in Vegas), he and Steve rode on a ride called “Insanity” that sits on top of the Stratophere, Tom treated us to the best streak dinner I’ve ever had, we placed bets on the Red Sox and Mets, we stumbled upon a concert, we sat by the pool, and we laughed. A lot.
And so when we came upon a bar called ‘Yolos’ on Saturday night, it was a no-brainer. Dan and I even sang karaoke — an event I hope was not documented!
As I’m writing this, it’s Sunday afternoon and I’m enjoying lunch outside, already missing my family, but feeling extremely grateful for an incredible weekend. Sure, it wasn’t cheap — the meals alone cost more than what we spend on groceries in weeks — but it was worth every penny.
I highly recommend that everyone set aside time out of your busy schedules to reconnect with family and just have fun, whether it’s a weekend away or even a night out. Don’t be afraid to try something different — something that takes you out of your comfort zone. You might surprise yourself.
And finally, enjoy every minute of it. Because YOLO.
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