Our first house

Well, I just got back from a weekend trip to Vegas. Dan was competing in a drag race out there so I went out to cheer him on and also visit some of my old friends. (We lived in Vegas for 6 years when we were newlyweds).

Wow has Vegas grown!!!! We moved away in 1998, but visited most recently in 2004. In 2004 we had noticed a lot of growth, but WOW, even MORE growth since then. I can't believe how far the city has stretched its boarders. The sad part is that right now(following the housing bubble burst-which did affect LV dramatically), there are lots of new, but empty commercial store fronts and office spaces, as well as unfinished construction on homes and businesses. When we were there in 2004 I had gone and visited our first house. We were the first owners and had built it. We sold it to a lady whom my neighbor told me had sold it again and then wound up having renters. The renters evidently trashed the place. In 2004 my neighbor let me peer over the backyard fence and I was saddened to see the pool was green with algae and the yard yucky. The front of the house was looking run down and shabby too, and it saddened me. You know how it is, when its your first house. That was where Dan and I started our life together (well after our apartment-but still).

Anyway, I had missed an exit while shopping, so I was heading in the direction of the house anyway, so I just continued all the way there, out of curiosity. I know I don't live there anymore and I know its not my current life, but you like to revisit the past sometimes and just "check on it". Well, the area had continued to grow since our last 2004 visit. Now there was a grocery store and lots of businesses (doctors,hair,services, etc) within 1 mile of the house. (When we lived there, it was barren land, except for our neighborhood.)Now there were businesses nearby as well as other neighborhoods. I did see that if I still lived there, I would weigh about 30 pounds more, because my favorite spot (Cold Stone Creamery) was also only a mile away! Ha ha.

So after driving past these new businesses and homes I turned into the neighborhood. The neighborhood is now about 15 years old and the first thing I noticed is that it looked like a older, established neighborhood. Not because it was rundown, but because the trees people had planted in their backyards had now grown and could be visible over the block fences/walls. As I was driving towards my house I was bracing myself for something really bad (since last time I was there it was already headed downhill). I was very pleasantly, and happily surprised to find that new owners had bought it. They had darkened the paint color and replaced the landscaping. Thus updating it and making it very cute. I talked with them and they told me when they bought the house the pool was black and they had to have the plaster re-done. They let me walk through the house to the backyard. I have to admit I missed all the grass we had planted. But I know Vegas is on a water monitoring system now so most people can't afford to have grass anymore. The house was very cute and back in loving hands and it made me really happy! I was also pleased to see that the rest of the neighborhood seemed to be weathering the economic downturn pretty well. (No for sale signs or foreclosures). It seemed like a very quaint, very nice, little neighborhood. I'm glad. :) I know houses aren't living beings, but I'm glad its being taken care of again and cherished, instead of abused and destroyed.