All year I planned the perfect family summer vacation in my mind. It would be a road trip up north, maybe even going into southern Oregon, stopping at neat places along the way - an almost two week adventurous vacation to remember. Only, well, ummm, the closer I got to the days when I needed to start mapping it out and making reservations, and after hours and hours of sitting in front of the computer, the more I started getting upset and anxious and hesitant and stressed and undecided and unhappy.
I just couldn't do it.
The more I thought about it, the more I imagined a much simpler and relaxing scenario: check into a nice hotel with lots of amenities, like a great pool, room service, spa, and maybe some kids activities. I'd be willing to sacrifice the length of our vacation for quality of time together...and my sanity.
Then it comes to me in a divine moment of clarity. I remember hearing about a great hotel within walking distance of Legoland - an upscale resort in Carlsbad with a fantastic pool area for kids, game rooms, and plenty of activities. I look it up online and cha-ching - they offer TWO BEDROOM condos! Hooray for the kids having their own room and us grownups having our own space. Yay for putting them to bed and closing the door and being able to enjoy a quiet evening alone without worrying about waking up the kids. From past experience I know that the extra money spent for the luxurious extra space is soooo worth it.
Done deal.
So, last week we finally hit the road. On the way, we stop at the historic and beautiful Mission San Juan Capistrano - a place I've always wanted to visit. LOVED it. Another check mark on my places-to-go list.
That afternoon we eagerly arrive at the resort, ready to settle in for three nights of fun and bliss. However, like a bad nightmare, the polite front desk clerk says something about guests not checking out and some emergency or something and here are the directions to your new hotel and breakfast vouchers blah blah blah have a nice day buh bye.
WHAT??!!??!!!???!?!?!?!!!
This was not in the perfect family summer vacation that I planned! I didn’t sign up for this! I only want to stay at this hotel! How can this be happening?! This can't be real?! Our big summer vacation is totally ruined! Nooooo!! Booooo!! Whaaaaa!! WTF?! *&#^%$#!
There is no choice but to suck it up and check into the consolation hotel ten minutes away and hope that the unfortunate situation gets happily resolved the next day. However, the room is sadly still occupied the following day (overbooked?), but the apologetic manager offers up free Legoland tickets and a voucher to return to the resort in the future. I still can’t help feeling rather bummed out and disappointed. I know I must let it go.
Eventually, I come to the realization that I must accept that it is what it is, it could be much much worse, and to make the best of it. Our small hotel isn’t that bad – a one bedroom condo within steps from the beach. We can still take advantage of the desired resort, pretending that we are staying there and we do just that – kids have a blast at the fun pool and game room and I get in a few glorious hours of relaxing and reading in a comfy lounge chair by the pool. We fully enjoy and appreciate our free breakfast (yummy!), our free Legoland day (sooooo much fun!), and our completely free three nights in our room by the beach (score!). Oh, and they gave us a SEVEN night voucher to return in the future. Basically, we got two free vacations. Not so bad after all. So good in fact, that my daughter didn't want it to end.
When I reflect back, many stories and events like this come to mind, both in my life and in others. Feeling rather inspired, I’ve decided to feature those stories once a week, whether it’s my own or a friend’s or a story I read in the media. Welcome to my happymiss project.
**Thank you to my most brilliant friend Andrea for personally coining the "happymiss" term for me.
**Thank you to my most brilliant friend Andrea for personally coining the "happymiss" term for me.
1 comments - click to view or add:
Ah, poor Talia. Very sad. I feel that way when the salons end.
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