January 29th
Jody was coming to Vegas late in the evening so I arrived, headed to the Bette Store and walked around Caesar's Palace while the room was readied. Then, upon entering the massive, Bellagio fountain view room, I took a bath in the jacuzzi and wrote in my journal. The suite was huge and gorgeous, complete with a glittering view and multiple seating areas. By the time Jody arrived I was rested and calm. We headed to dinner at Noodles 9, a place that hand makes their noodles. It was not only yummy, but the decor was like being under the sea and goldfish, hundred of them floated through the walls. By midnight we were headed out to Freemont Street for a fried Twinkie and Oreos. The casino housing such a heart attack was called Mermaids and was totally trashy. I loved it. The fried foods shuts down at midnight and it was about 1am, but after some sweet talking by yours truly, we got a couple made special for us. They were scrumptious, I tell you. I could crave one right now! Kathy Griffin and Bette were right!
January 30th
I woke up before Jody and went downstairs to hang out, people watch, and write postcards. About 10am, I crashed her sleep with coffee, yogurt and muffins. She was happy. We chatted and watched the fountains from the window. Then we headed to work out at the fancy center for which people go completely dressed in fabulousity and makeup. I, on the other hand, looked tired and was sweating. Im not sure sweating is a part of that workout center. Then, we spent the next 4 hours at the Qua Baths and Spa.This was a beautiful area with whirlpools and saunas, cool pools, and a room that snows! A bit out of place, we pretended we belonged and enjoyed our soaks like the non-famous pretending to be famous we were. After all day in the water, we went back to the room to ready for dinner and the Bette show. Both were fantastic. We ate at Treve, an Italian eatery in the Forum Shops of Caesar's and made it to Bette's show in perfect time. The Showgirl went on and I left Jody to go meet the Divine Miss M one more time. This time, there were tons of people down int he catacombs of the Colosseum. Not near as intimate as last time, but still exhilarating. The meeting with Bette went so fast, yet was complete with so much eye contact and general coolness.
You know, it is amazing to get to meet someone like Bette one time, but twice is simply divine. I mean, because there is protocol to meet a celebrity--you must fit in their time frame because essentially a non-famous person is an interloper from the larger world of the un-famous. When one meets their sought after famous person, it is as if they have been plucked from their dream. Swirling questions remind one of their helplessness and connection to the world of the not-so-fabulous. "What am I going to say?" repeats like the millions of records the celebrity has recorded and one's heart beats so hard that the room seems to pulse in time. Yet, the instant Bette spoke to me, she became mine. Her eye contact is so intense, the 200 people in the room faded away and I had her for 2 minutes. Standing transfixed, I was instantly grateful to be there again, star-struck, and once again, unable to say what I wanted to clearly, with humor and poise. It's Bette Midler after all! She made eye contact with me several times before it was my turn. I think her brain was telling her she had seen me before and when I moved to shake her hand, she made the point to ask, "Have I met you before?" She remembered me, my dissertation, and that I was a teacher. She was confused how a teacher would gain access twice: I guess we aren't famous enough (funny how I am famous in my own world and I can't imagine my world going on without me in it!). Still, I explained my prize winning and the READ poster left in my car. She laughed and said, "the important thing is to get kids to read, read, read," that it,"was the passage to everything in the world." She made me want to read a book right then, to head back over to the waiting couch and curl up. She instantaneously made me re-access my TV watching habits. She asked me where I was from again, citing that her long-term memory wasn't what it used to be. I said Austin and she said she was surprised kids would struggle there because it was such a progressive city and that she wanted to visit. I replied that there are always kids in need, schools in need, and areas in need. She said she guessed that was right. I ended by saying that the most important part of reading, of my job, was to get people to see that there is so much more out there than what they see everyday. She thought that was, "Yes, very true." I told her thank you for taking time to see me again and she said," Sure." I left pondering my TV watching time and my use of eye contact. I'm going to work on both.
January 31st
Jody and I ate at Serendipity, complete with Frozen Hot Chocolate and a Brie, apple turkey sandwich. So yummy. Then we headed out to the Springs Preserve to take a look at eco-friendly, sustainable living in the desert areas. It was beautiful in a dry, cactusy sort of way. The buildings were amazing as well. After picking up a wine for the woman who made my trip possible, we headed back to get ready for the dinner with the other BetteHeads (those Bette addicted people who read and write on a blog entitled bootlegbetty). It was neat to meet those electronic names and add realtime faces. We laughed and ate. Bette's Harlettes (three background dancers and singers) showed up for a surprise which capped a lovely time. Then, I got the best gift ever from Jody. She gave me a ticket to go see Bette at the last show! I was so excited and bubbly and downright happy I couldnt speak. I ran to the lines and left Jody standing there. She texted me that I was "hilarious and loved." I love that girl. The show was vastly different, resplendent with celebrities (Marie Osmond, Bruce Villanch, Joan Collins, Paula Abdul, Wayne Newton, Carol Bayer Seger, Jerry and Bonnie Bruckheimer, Gladys Knight, Jake Shimabukuro, and even a video of Celine Dion). Wayne was 2 rows behind me and Paula a couple in front. I saw them all with mine eyes! Bette stood teary often and a couple times was unable to finish the song. It was touching, human, and seriously amazing. When Gladys Knight sang Memories Bette sat quiet and in tears and when Bette and Jake sang In My Life, I cried soft tears as well. I will never forget it, ya know?
By the time I got upstairs, I was so exhausted. Jody and I drank some stolen wine and chocolate-covered strawberries and fell asleep, me dreaming of Bette and hearing, "There are places I remember, all my life..." I miss you too Grandpa.
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