One week, that’s how long I’ve lived in Paradise Palms, Las Vegas. New people, new places, and lots of heat. A big change from the muggy and humid world of Iowa and the Midwest.
Now I live in what is called the “hippest neighborhood in the coolest city”. After last night I can see why.
My dad pulled me aside earlier this week amidst my unpacking and job hunting to tell me about this social happening on Saturday.
“Do you want to go?” he looks at me as if I’m going to say no. I think to myself I have two options and they are as follows: I can go and be social and meet new people. Or I can stay home where I am about to go nuts because I have nothing to do.
Needless to say I decided that I was going to be social and meet some of my new neighbors.
Two nice people invited my dad and me over the day after I moved in. Tom and Amy are wonderful people who are dear friends of my dad. Amy took me under her wing and told me a little about living in Sin City. How the town works, what looking for job is like, and other things that a small town person like myself needs to know.
I spend the majority of my time trying to acclimate myself to my new surroundings. It’s not like college where everyone is roughly my age and we all have the prepared mantra of questions. What’s your name, what are you studying, where are you from, what year are you, etc. These questions I know will not help me understand who these people are.
Surprisingly, on Friday Dad gets an invite to another party. “These are two of the nicest people.” I’m now looking for any excuse to get out of the house.
We drive to this house and I met Ben and Tania. I was not disappointed in their openness and kindness toward me. “Welcome to Paradise Palms.”
Tania talks to me about how my job hunt is going and I’m not surprised when I learn it can take months to break in here. I’m discouraged but not beaten.
“What are you interested in?” Tania asks me with genuine interest. I was not expecting to be shunned because I am so young, but I was happily impressed with how much these, to me, completely new people wanted to help me. I voiced my surprise to which I was met with a kind smile.
“We are a family here. If you need something all you have to do is ask.” I smiled back myself.
I had this picture my dad had painted for me of these people: kind, nice, helpful, and fun.
Then I had my ideas about Las Vegas: Elvis, weddings, gambling, shows, drugs, and everything else that movies and books portray it as.
I saw things that were left out of my dad’s description of these people: open, loving, warm, and generous. They opened their home to a complete stranger, yes they know my dad, but they still were willing to offer help to me.
Many asked me if I was going to be at the party the next day. I replied that yes I would be there, but I did not hide my nervousness. By my own admission, a shy and reserved person when introduced into a large group. Thought still not sure I am supposed to do. Small groups or single people I am much more relaxed.
They reassured me that most of the people at this party would be at the one the next day. That made me feel a little bit better, but I was still wary.
A wonderful couple Dan and Jim, told me about all of these writers in the neighborhood and said they would introduce me the next day.
Saturday comes and I am not sure about this party so much anymore. I am trying to be calm, but inside my knees are shaking and my stomach is churning.
The host, a rambunctious woman named Sue, greets me kindly but embraces my dad like they were Kindergarten classmates. She ushers us into the house were I am greeted with by dozen faces, none of which look at all familiar from night before. Dad goes off and talks to his friends and I am standing rather awkwardly next to the bar trying not to look as nervous as I feel.
A housemate of Sue’s, Casey, comes up to me. “I haven’t see you before.” He was polite and very sweet, but I could see he wasn’t sure who I was or why I was there. I introduced myself and pointed at my dad, “I’m his daughter.”
Recognition of my older brother and the news that I was moving into my dad’s was coming back to him. I was then swept through a whirl wind of introductions. Trying my best to mingle and now be nervous.
I was introduced to several of the writers at the party. Many people were wondering how I was going to break into the writing business. I said it will take a little bit of time, but for right now I just want a job, preferably one that allows me to use my degree.
I had so many more people say, “I have a friend who works in this department for this company. I’ll see if they are hiring and put in a word for you, if you want?”
I may be young, but I am not so proud and foolish to turn down extended hands of help when they are offered.
Many told me about their experiences trying to find jobs as well as their willingness to help me in my search.
Paradise Palms truly did surprise me, but not in the way you would expect. It is a family not just a community and for that I am happy that I live here.