Friday, February 22, 2008

Hanging in the Hotel Lobby

The car door shuts, the luggage is removed from the trunk, and rhythmically the windshield wipers rock back and forth tossing ice and snow from the bonds of the car. At this point I realize I am in a strange city, alone. I rejoice as I love a good adventure, but my smile gives way to a concentrated grimace as I navigate the icy freeway wondering what is this "black ice" I hear so much about. My 3o mile traverse to my hotel goes off with out any problems. But now it's only too quiet. I have just spent the past week with two other work peers. The jokes, the senseless poking fun at each other, and even the constant, loud talking of one particular one fades into dead silence.

I am comfortable being alone, even for long periods of time I can handle solitude. That doesn't mean I won't strike up a converstation with a stranger for poops and giggles, but I'm ok in the corner by myself. This is were I was, the corner, as the only place I am guaranteed to have an Internet signal in my room is in my bathroom, as fate would have it, near the toilet. So, to save myself the discomfort, well really the seceret embarrassment of sitting on the john, checking my email, I decided to go to the lobby. That's were I was reminded of how blessed I am.

I sat through overheard conversations from a crying mother who's account had been overdrawn by the hotel, a hotel employee who did not have enough gas or any money to get home, and a baby sitter who did not show up. Life is hard, shit happens, and I am reminded of how good I have it and how blessed I am. Public places are good for a pick me up.

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