My Weekend Away

[qos]

Friday I wrote about my anticipation of the coming weekend – and it did turn out to be a great experience. But it started out as a minor adventure.



I got off work at 3:30, and arrived at my hotel around 5pm. It was a Best Western motor inn, selected because our department staffer had suggested it in the email of info about course logistics. I had looked it up on the internet, and it seemed a pleasant enough place. But when I arrived there, after dark, what I found was an ill-lit complex, in a semi-industrial area. I checked in, and found out that my room was halfway down the side, facing a pair of empty fields. I drove around to the room and sat in my car for a while, looking up at the dark building and asking myself, “Is this a challenge to be embraced, or a potentially bad situation to remove myself from?” Finally I went up to the second level to check out my room. It was small, not well lit, and the door didn’t seem all that substantial. I realized that I would never be able to sleep there, because I wouldn’t feel safe – and certainly all my pleasant expectations of a comfortable retreat for the weekend would be entirely unrealized.

So I went back to my car, drove around to the front desk, and told the desk clerk, “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel comfortable or safe here, and I want to check out.” To his credit, he didn’t make an issue of it at all. He voided my credit card authorization, and I got back in my car and decided to drive around to the other motels in the area to see if any more promising venues presented themselves. At that point I was quite prepared to drive all the way home if necessary and commute the 90 minutes or so back and forth to class.

I was just pulling across the street into another property when my cell phone rang. The number was long distance, and the person on the other end didn’t sound at all familiar. Finally I realized I was speaking with celtdreamsinger, who was calling at a pre-arranged time to talk about Herbalife. I, of course, had expected to be comfortably ensconced in a hotel by that time, not in limbo in a dark, unfamiliar neighborhood looking for a safe and comfortable place to rest my head. celtdreamsinger and Sandy were very sweet when I tried to apologize, and we re-scheduled the appointment for Monday. (I’m still looking forward to talking with you, E!)

None of the motels in that vicinity looked promising, so I went back to the main road and continued the other direction. I soon found myself outside a Shiloh Inn, which clearly had all its rooms opening inside the building, and which advertised “affordable rates.” Not sure how “affordable” it would be for me, I decided to take a chance and went in.

The lobby, in contrast to the Best Western, was bright, warm and welcoming. Celia, behind the desk, was equally bright and welcoming, and the student rate she quoted was the same as the place I’d left. She gave me a room on the ground floor and a key, and a few minutes later I found myself in very comfortable room, with a microwave and a refrigerator, brightly-colored bedclothes, and a cheerful, cozy feeling. I got my luggage, flopped down on the bed, and ordered room service from the Elmer’s restaurant across the street. I spent the evening continuing my re-reading of A Song for Arbonne (so much for finishing the reading for my class!) and enjoying a reasonably good steak dinner. When I finally turned out the light, it was to a feeling of peace and gratitude.



It was a minor adventure, but something of a milepost for me on several levels. First, that I had listened to my intution (something I’ve not always been good at), and then was assertive enough to leave the first place. Second, that I didn’t just go home, but struck out and looked for a better option and did go in to the place that looked like someplace I wanted to be, even when I wasn’t sure I’d be able to afford it. Finally, this was the first time I’d ever stayed in a hotel (and paid for it) by myself. A minor passage, but a significant one, since it demonstrates my growing ability to make things happen on my own, and to claim what I want and go for it.

Class over the weekend was great. It’s being taught by Fr. R., who taught last quarter’s “Christian Anthropology class,” and while this class wasn’t as tightly structured, I enjoy his knowledge and his spiritual wisdom and insight. (I never thought I’d learn so much on a personal spiritual level from a priest!) We went for six hours on both Saturday and Sunday, and will have one more weekend session in February.

After class got out today, I had the pleasure of seeing thomryng for the first time in several months, and meeting jaynefury for the first time. We had Chinese dinner together and good conversation. The evening was ended too soon by a phone call from my daughter’s father asking when I was going to be home. He had made plans based on my earlier statement that I expected to be home around 7pm. It was 6:30 and he was wondering if I was on schedule. I had just accepted an invitation to stay with Thom and Francine for another hour or so and roll up a character for Thom’s upcoming Harn game – and eat some of Francine’s fresh-baked cookies! – but I had said I’d be home, and since the Ex had made plans based on that, and he had been Primary Parent all weekend, I felt obligated to follow through on my original statement.

I hadn’t missed my daughter until Sunday dinner, when the sight of a little blonde girl at the next table brought on that visceral yearning that still takes me by surprise. So while I was sorry to say goodnight so soon to Thom and Francine, it was nice to get home early enough to do bedtime rituals with the Little Princess and spend some cuddle time before she went to bed.

It was a lovely weekend. I really don’t want to go back to work tomorrow!

Comments

[toesontheground.livejournal.com]

yay for good weekends :)

[gothic-coop.livejournal.com]

I hear you about not like to stay in weird hotel rooms. I never sleep unless I am in my own bed anyways.