Riverwalk

            In the novel, Allison Johnson spent most of her time after her waitressing job by the Truckee River. This is also the place where she had her first real conversation with Dan Mahony.

            I had only been to the Riverwalk once before. This was the final destination for Andrea and me. Now that I felt like I was really seeing what Allison must have been experiencing, I tried to go there in her mindset.

            The river is absolutely breathtaking. The architecture that the city decided to surround the downtown area where the river passes by only makes it that much more of a majestic sight. I could understand why Allison would come here so frequently. Just walking with the crisp air touching one’s face and being accompanied by the trickling river is an experience like none other. It allows one to forget all the problems that he or she has been dealing with. Being one with nature can do that to a person. In Vegas, there is so much nature that surrounds the city. But within the city, nature is not as evident. One can get lost in the neon light, the parties, the alcohol, and the drugs. But here in Reno, the heart of the city is that of the beauty that nature gives us.

            I feel as if the river symbolizes her problems being washed away; giving her hope for a new day.

            The most interesting sight I saw was the pigeons that were alongside the bridge. I can’t really explain it. But they were enduring the cold by each other’s sides. They don’t have the same luxuries that humans have created for themselves. An artificial environment is not an option for them. Yet year after year, season after season, these birds make it through these tough times. They just don’t go killing themselves with drugs and other means of destruction. They survive, adapt, and overcome. I really don’t like pigeons, but it was odd how I was seeing them now.

            In the end, after visiting these four locations, it occurred to me that the tale of the these two cities is very complex for some. For Allison, it was the story of her downfall and the story of her redemption. It has opened my eyes to the reality that some have had to face within the two cities that have been home to me for so long.

Cal-Neva

          The first place that Allison got a job when she made it to Reno was the Cal-Neva. This is the place that I feel helped her realize that life is not just this sad, broken place. The customers that she had there were mainly regulars. She worked the graveyard shift because she did not enjoy staying at her apartment at night. One of her regulars was Dan Mahony who ended up being the person to help her finally leave her tragic past behind her.

            After Andrea and I left the Eldorado, we continued South on Virginia. On our left we found the Cal-Neva. We crossed the street diagonally which was a very weird concept for me. I had never seen such a thing. Although there was still daylight outside, this was still kind of a sketchy place to be. We passed people who were most likely homeless yelling at people who were clearly not present.

            Walking inside, I noted that this place was not trying to be extravagant like many other casinos I had been in throughout my life. It was dark and had a very deep smell of age. It was very difficult to navigate as well. I am not really sure how Allison made it on time to her first day of work.

        

          As I have already mentioned, being from Las Vegas, it is easy for me to compare Allison’s experiences. It became evident to me that Allison really was living in a parallel universe. The Cal-Neva is no way better than the other crappy places she waitressed at in Las Vegas. Finally, Andrea and I made our way through the maze and found the Top Deck Restaurant. We look at the menu and all the items that Allison served her customers were there!

          This being our third place we had visited, Allison’s life started to feel more real. At this point I realized what a tragic tale of a young girl this was. Barely beginning her life she had already been through a number of experiences that most people hope to never encounter even once in their lifetime. Yet here she was, trying to just survive in this forsaken place at the age of 22; her life in shambles. Throughout my life, I always here these sad stories but I also felt as if they were faceless victims. Even though while reading the book I just thought Allison was this dumb girl, walking her path made me realize that it was much more than that. She was a victim of the circumstances that she had grown up with. And because of that, she was worthless in her eyes being described as “the girl” throughout the novel instead of “Allison.”

I looked back at the dark lounge we had just passed. And there were the others in this forsaken place just trying to survive. One could see that by the pungent smell of alcohol that came off of them as well as the deep circles that drew attention from their sad eyes.

Eldorado

            Leading off of my last post, Penny also took Allison to the Eldorado to enjoy one of the best dessert buffets in town.

            On Saturday, November 10, 2012, my bestie and I went downtown for a walk. Our first stop was the Eldorado. For some reason, the walk didn’t seem that long. This time, our journey took place during the day. The transformation that the area goes through from nighttime to daytime was apparent because downtown did not seem as threatening as it did just a few nights before. As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice that the scarce groups of people on the street were elderly couples and Fresno fans from out of town. When we finally got to the Eldorado, I took note of the people that filled the casino. The same was true. Besides local college students, the next youngest group I saw was middle-aged woman who were nearing the elderly stage in their life. That’s when it hit me. Las Vegas is filled with the a younger crowd living out the motto “you only live once” as well as the classic saying “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” It almost felt like I was seeing a desolate version of the Las Vegas casinos. These were the people who were consumed and ruined by the 24-7 life of high stake risks, gambling, and drinking problems. These people seemed to fit the characters of Vlauntin’s novel. They were run down from the harsh realities that each one of them had to face. And here they were, just vague images of what each of them once was. Their youth had passed them by and now they were living day to day having to deal with the consequences of days long ago.

            In regards to that, I could see that this could be exactly what Allison needed. Reno was not a place where temptation ran ramped anymore. It was a place where many have had to go through the same things but have left in hopes of change. For some that was somewhat true; some still consumed by the darkest temptations.

            Andrea and I finally found the buffet in the Eldorado. It wasn’t that busy. I’m sure Allison was used to this since Vegas has buffets everywhere one goes.

            Expanding on my earlier thought, Reno is very much like Vegas. It is the people and energy that makes it very different. So for Allison, seeing that she wasn’t fully there in her mind, it could feel like a parallel universe. All the same familiar things; just a very different way of life. 

Aweful-Aweful

            In the novel Northline byWilly Vlautin, the protagonist, Allison Johnson, finds herself in Reno trying to escape the tragedies in her life that had manifested in Las Vegas. Here, although she is haunted by her past, she attempts to make a fresh start. In doing so, one of the jobs that she takes on is one for a company that sells carpet cleaning vacuums. This job takes up the extra hours in her day that she dreaded due to the time it would gave her mind to wander. Penny, her boss and only co-worker at this job, eventually started to befriend her by taking her out. One of the places that she takes her to is the famous “Aweful-Aweful” that is located in the Little Nugget on Virginia Street. Here she enjoys this famous burger with her friend.

            On election night, Tuesday, November 6, 2012, my friends and I ventured downtown to do the same. It took about twenty minutes to walk from our dorm rooms all the way to our destination. It was already dark by the time we headed out on our journey. It wasn’t long before the creepers of the night showed themselves. We had not even gotten more than 100 meters off of campus before we saw these suspicious figures lurk around. It made me question how Allison could feel as if Reno was this mystical healing place. If anything, the dark figures of her past were ever more evident in a more threatening form. What I mean by this is that she was here by herself, alone with her thoughts. Seeing such things continually could haunt one. 

However, when we finally arrived at the Little Nugget, the sense of security went up a notch. Still, questionable characters surrounded us in the smoke filled casino. Once we made it to the back to the “Aweful-Aweful” we ordered two burgers in split them in thirds to share. The two chefs were very kind. At a glance, they seemed unapproachable. But making even the smallest of conversation transformed them into your friendly neighborhood chef. We sat down, and finally we were able to enjoy the most popular burger in town. It was just so perfect and delectable. For just a moment, I couldn’t imagine anything being better. I felt so at peace. 

Thinking of Allison, I could see how this was a significant change from being in Vegas. Being a native Las Vegan myself, I understand that sometime it feels like the city doesn’t need you as much as you need it. It really depends on how you integrate yourself and where you go. But in this experience at the “Aweful-Aweful” I started to comprehend the closeness of a small town city. There are traditions that everyone knows about and rituals that cannot be replicated elsewhere. And when you really look close, Reno is made up of many others who have escaped big city life for a new chance.