In March, Merl and I traveled to Nashville, TN for a convention he was attending for work. We left the kids in capable hands of grandparents and friends and flew across the country......for a little taste of heaven.
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| A view of one side of the hotel...... |
But let me back up.....a little background is needed here......before Christmas he had mentioned a convention at the Gaylord Opry Hotel and when I looked up the website, decided he was in need of a traveling partner......it would be a shame for my man to go to a place like this without me! But then he wasn't sure he was going to go so I put it in the back of my mind......'til one night out for coffee with some girlfriends. Merl had just told me before I left he had booked a reservation for the conference and it was coming up. I hadn't thought about it for awhile and suddenly it seemed like a lot of trouble to try to go. Enter my dear friends....who after hearing several wisecracks I made about marriage and not enough dates with my hubby decided we needed Intervention with a capital I......if you were to hear the story from them they'd probably tell you they had to twist my arm to go.....I would call it a good firm nudge.....either way - I came straight home from coffee and booked my ticket!
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| One side of the lobby/check-in |
The night before our 7 am flight out - yes I said THE NIGHT BEFORE...... I said - "Do we have a confirmation number or something for the hotel? Any paperwork we need?" Merl answers - "Hmm....I can't remember if I booked the hotel." Me: "You can't REMEMBER if you BOOKED the hotel?" My dear sweet husband: "No - it doesn't look like I did."
OK - time out here. My bags were packed (overpacked to be precise), the kids were already at G&G's, and it was time for bed - and he is telling me we have no reservation at the hotel? Of course he is an optimist and says it will be fine - he'd book it then online. Me seeing the glass half full had other thoughts. Like - this: "You mean to tell me that after a month of thinking about a refreshing, and yes - luxurious hotel vacation of reading and relaxing in a beautiful place with you I might be staying across the street at the Motel 6? Well probably not. If there are no more rooms I am having a 4 day vacation right here! No way am I getting on that plane!"
Well anyway - I was just thinking these things of course so by the time I got to "I am not getting on the plane" he had a room reserved. Crisis averted. We agreed on a time to leave for the airport and off to bed we went.
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| Stained glass ceiling in the lobby |
I of course always under estimate how much time it takes to get ready in the morning and he often thinks we don't need to be at the airport QUITE early enough.....so the combination of the two turned out to be interesting. Leaving 10 minutes AFTER an already too tight time frame, slow shuttle at the airport, etc. = late check in. Standing in the line to check our bags (yes - I know we shouldn't have checked bags but remember, I overpacked).......I am having a stomachache and stewing over how much I do not like to be late......Merl is looking at me and saying it will all be fine but I could tell he was recalling how much I cannot stand to be late.
I think at this point I realized that maybe we've learned something in 19 years of marriage. This is the way he is - this is the way I am. No use yelling at each other or being irritated in the line now. It is what it is. We've got the neon orange sticker on the luggage that says "LATE CHECK-IN - cannot guarantee your bags will make this flight."
I fretted quietly to myself with a few heavy sighs in the security line and we sprinted - yes ran - to the gate. Of course we made it there as boarding began and made it on the flight - without too much fuss.....for a few hours.....Then while claiming our baggage, it seemed my suitcase was not going to slide out of that chute. Even then I am proud to say I didn't use any four letter words.......just followed him to the Southwest office to decide my fate. Seemed the suitcase would probably appear on the next flight and they'd send it to the hotel. Deep breath. OK - yes - the luxurious hotel - focus........so off we went.
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| Balconies! |
After an unexpected upgrade to a balcony room facing the courtyard........and a lovely lunch in the below restaurant......I am sorry to say - I was still sort of wondering about my suitcase!!!!!! But not like other times I've worried.....a little more contained.
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| Lovely restaurant for lunch |
The next flight came and went without my suitcase so now I started to think that I might not see it that day. Dressing or freshening up for dinner was a little out of the question. Yes - my friends at home were texting me all kinds of wise cracks at this point.....but my sweet husband kindly said - if you need to buy some clothes tomorrow don't worry - it is fine. This was, however, before I scouted out what the damage would be......: $25 dollars for just 1 pair of "old lady underwear!" Um, I don't think so.
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| Shops within the hotel...... |
Dinner was good except for the salad we were supposed to split that consisted of one quarter of a head of iceberg lettuce with about 6 grape tomatoes and literally 12 bacon bits sprinkled on the plate! That was a laugh actually - followed from a phone call from the airline: "Your bag was sent to the hotel and should arrive within the hour." Ahhh, music to my ears. All was well again - time for some fun.
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| View out the left of our balcony |
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| View to the right of our balcony |
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| The river running through the hotel! |
