Early Memories

My childhood was not normal because I had the opportunity to travel that many other children (or grown-ups) never enjoyed. My father was Bill Cravens and he was the ultimate traveling salesman, but his trade was video games, no steak knives. Most of the traveling had him going all over the country and the world to visit customers, factories, offices and trade shows. The trade shows were where my brother and I were able to tag along and see all of the new games and other products that were coming out. Todd (my brother) and I also became quite familiar with airports as a result of these trade shows.

In the mid to late 80's, these trade shows constantly moved around the country. Reno, New Orleans, Chicago, New York City and Las Vegas all held these expos at one time or another. As time went on, the shows started sticking with one city in particular and of course it was Las Vegas. Because of my age, I do not really remember too much of the city since my focus was on the video games and how big the bath tub was going to be in the suite that my father's company had rented out.

A few years after they changed the name from MGM Grand to Bally's, my entire family was staying there for one of the trade shows. One evening we were glued to the scene that was happening across the street at the dunes (now the Bellagio). They were filming a movie in which several Elvis impersonators were parachuting down to the property. It ended up being the last funny movies that Nicholas Cage was in but one of several that takes place in Vegas.   

Amongst all of the times I visited Vegas, the one memory that always stands out as a favorite, is sitting on a set of tile stairs with my father as we ate deli sandwiches in the bottom of the Bally's casino. It was the only time I remember eating alone with him during a show, until the last night his life. There was no one there to interrupt us as we sat and talked about nothing and everything. No business associates or employees took my father away from me for those fleeting moments. I remember that we took a stroll by the lion that lived in the lower level and we never did get our pictures taken with it. A few hours later my brother and I were back in Seattle and we would not see my father for another few months.