June 2004: The Cowboy Couples go to Vegas
One seat left in the crowded TGIFridays in terminal C between two ten-gallon hats. I take it, but feel small and cramped. I order a merlot. To my right is a beaming cowboy and his big-haired blonde Tammy Faye traveling companion. They're headed to Vegas to get married Smiley Cowboy tells me.
"Ever been to Vegas?" he asks me.
"Not really," I say.
"You can't believe the deals in Vegas," he says into his beer, shaking his head (which is dramatic because of the hat!)
To my left, a more somber cowboy and HIS big-haired blonde Tammy Faye. He stretches his back in order to sit taller and talk over my head. "Chew say y'all 'er goin' to Vegas?"
"Yup. Y'all too?"
"Yeah. Same flight?" They compare times, gates and finally flight numbers getting increasingly excited by this discovery.
Smiley Cowboy say, "We're gettin' married!"
"Well, hell! Us too!" Somber Cowboy is really loosening up.
Soon the two couples and laughing and hooting over me, slapping me on the back and buying drinks (even for me!).
"Y'all want to be our wedding witnesses?"
"Hell yes!"
I'm caught up in the excitement too. I'm even mildly disappointed that I won't get to see the big event(s).
"Where y'all stayin?"
"Stardust."
"Hot damn, us too!" There was a literal "yee-haw" at this moment. I swear to God I'm not making this up. I'm slapped on the back again and nearly spill my merlot on the way to my mouth. I grip the sloshing juice glass in both hands and offer a controlled toast. More toasts come. Soon I'm given another round so I continue to be involved in the toasting.
I not really a part of the conversation this time, and yet I am. I feel like the catalyst. The link in this joyful meeting. Had Smiley Cowboy and I not started talking, Somber Cowboy would never have known to ask about Vegas and destinies would have been completely changed. I sip my merlot and think, wouldn't it be cool if these couples become life-long friends?
It's time for their flight and they exit whooping, their snakeskin books clicking on the tile, the ladies huddled as they walked, finally able to girl-talk. I take a deep breath and stretch my arms into the wide open spaces left by their absence.
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