Mars Needs Writers

...or it is, at least, as we write this blog. We're in Sin City to celebrate the wedding of Renée's sister-by-another-mother to a really good guy. See, we told you some still existed. But, oops!, now he's gone. So please excuse us if this post is a little light on the writing biz at this time. We're busy drinking champagne and playing baccarat. Actually, it's more like sipping at apple cider while losing at penny slots but you get the idea.
 
Coming into the city, we noticed the sign on your left. It's everywhere. You'll even see versions of it in the Luxor (our hotel for this adventure), where all things sell-able are Egyptian-themed or pyramid-shaped...except for this image. Postcards, t-shirts, key rings, ash trays, and on and on...and we wondered who was the wizard behind the Las Vegas welcome.

It turns out that Betty Willis, graphic designer, is the wizard who came up with the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Created in 1959, it's probably her most famous piece -- and she's got some pretty impressive bits in her portfolio -- but she never copyrighted the LV thing. She knew it was money but she gave the piece away as a gift to the city.
 
To the best of our knowledge, BW is still alive and kicking. We think her gesture was pretty Fabulous....