A Late Night Return

Three days in Las Vegas passed by in a blur

Of fun food gambling and new friends

My lovely hotel suite got worked over every night

By an assortment of the hotel staff and their friends

The good part about that is I didn't get charged if something got broken

But the good times were worth it even if I did

Dog finally learned to use the natural grass square

Much to our amusement and his horror

We'd all stop talking when he went and stare

He'd stare right back and do his business

Then go back to socializing with everyone like nothing happened

My troubles felt few as I soaked up the place

But on the last night there things took a bit of a turn

Right in the middle of a semi-sober game of charades

I had a wicked seizure which freaked everyone out

I hadn't told anyone what was wrong with me

So I got a free ride to the hospital out of it

The doctor's faces were pretty priceless

When I told them my medical issues

They recommended I stay there in their treatment

I thanked them but signed myself out

I've got other plans in mind

A short cab ride back to the hotel

I made short sad work of saying goodbye to my new friends

Collected Dog from the suite

He marked his grass square one more time

Grabbing a couple box meals to go

From the five star restaurant

And out the door we went

The four hour trip back home was pretty quiet

The stars shining down on us almost blindingly bright

Heat cranked against the desert chill

Dog curled up in the footwell to soak it up and sleep

Left alone with my thoughts in the night

I reflected on things

Questioned my plans

But reasoned that it was still right

Arriving home again Dog leapt from the truck

Checking things out to see if things smelled ok

I grabbed my stuff from the back and wandered to the trailer

On the front steps was a box and an envelope

Which read, "Hello neighbor!"

There were some assorted baked goods inside

Sealed in tupperware thank goodness

Or something would have eaten them

In the envelope a hand drawn card

Signed by a large family down the road about ten miles

I've been invited to dinner on Sunday

Dog came around the corner apparently satisfied with his look around

And began nosing at the boxes

So I opened some up and spread the love with him

With a muffin in one hand and the invitation in the other

I sighed and decided to go

Though more relationships was the last thing I thought I needed

Sitting down in my favorite chair I had one more cookie

Then slowly fell asleep sitting there

Dog warming my toes