Viva Las Vegas, Walls-Style: A Family Adventure (of Sorts) in the Glass Castle
Las Vegas conjures up images of clinking slot machines, dazzling lights, and maybe even an Elvis impersonator or two. But for the Walls family in Jeannette Walls' memoir, "The Glass Castle," their Vegas experience was a little less glamorous and a whole lot more, well, Walls-ish.
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| What Happened In Las Vegas In The Glass Castle |
Dad's Got a System (Maybe)
Fueled by the dream of building the mythical Glass Castle (complete with solar panels, no less!), Rex Walls, the ever-optimistic (and let's be honest, slightly unhinged) father, decided his family's nomadic lifestyle needed a cash injection. Enter Las Vegas, the neon oasis promising riches for the taking. Rex, convinced he'd cracked the code of blackjack, waltzed into the casinos with his brood in tow.
Imagine this: little Jeannette, barely four years old, surrounded by the cacophony of the casino floor, while Rex, with the confidence of a seasoned gambler (emphasis on seemed seasoned), raked in the chips. For a blissful month, life was good. The Walls lived large in a fancy hotel (probably funded by a lucky streak, not exactly comped rooms), and Rex showered the kids with gifts.
QuickTip: Look for patterns as you read.
Side note: Rex's "system" for winning blackjack remains a mystery. Let's just say it probably involved more luck than skill and wasn't exactly endorsed by the casino security.
Here Comes the Skedaddle (Again)
But as with all things Walls-related, the good times couldn't last. Casinos have a funny way of catching on to those who aren't exactly playing by the book (or shuffling cards with their X-ray vision, whatever Rex's plan was). One day, the inevitable knock on the door came. Casino security, unimpressed by Rex's charm or tall tales, politely (or maybe not-so-politely) informed them their presence was no longer welcome.
Tip: Be mindful — one idea at a time.
Thus began another Walls family tradition: The Skedaddle. Faced with eviction (and possibly worse), Rex packed up the family in the middle of the night and hit the road, leaving behind a trail of bewildered hotel staff and a slightly lighter casino vault (allegedly).
Vegas Wasn't Built for the Glass Castle (But the Desert Was...Sort Of)
Las Vegas wasn't exactly the place to build a self-sufficient, glass-walled marvel. But hey, Rex was a man of vision (if not exactly follow-through). The Walls' desert adventures continued, with Rex chasing gold and the ever-elusive Glass Castle dream, while Jeannette and her siblings learned valuable life lessons like dumpster diving and hotwiring cars (just kidding... mostly).
Tip: Keep your attention on the main thread.
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Fun Fact: Despite the less-than-successful Vegas trip, Rex's dream of the Glass Castle did inspire Jeannette. Years later, as a successful writer, she built a beautiful home for herself – not made of glass, but a testament to her resilience and the unconventional upbringing that, well, only the Walls family could provide.
How-To Vegas Walls-Style (Not Recommended, But Here You Go)
How to Win Big in Vegas (Like Rex):
Spoiler Alert There's no guaranteed system. Just stick to responsible gambling and enjoy the experience!
QuickTip: Pay close attention to transitions.
How to Pack for a Family Vacation (Walls Edition):
- Pack light! You never know when you might need to do a quick Skedaddle.
How to Build a Glass Castle (The Rex Walls Method):
- Find a metric ton of glass (good luck!).
- Invent a perpetual motion machine to power it (because why not?).
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 until dream house is complete. (We recommend a more traditional approach)
How to Survive a Family Road Trip with Rex Walls:
- Learn to hotwire a car (just kidding... again).
- Pack plenty of snacks (you never know when dinner will involve dumpster diving).
- Embrace the adventure (because with Rex, there's always one!)
How to Appreciate Your (Relatively) Normal Family:
- After reading about the Walls' adventures, be thankful for your own, perhaps slightly less chaotic, family dynamic.
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