I had been seriously triggered at work and realized I was going to have to quit. I had entered into the worst depression I had experienced in over a decade and I realized I needed to take care of myself. I needed to get away, even it I didn’t do anything, I needed a change of scenery. With that in mind, I decided to drive to the knitting/weaving/yarn shop in Kentucky and purchase a table top weaving loom I had been researching and knew they carried.
I hadn’t been to the shop in years and it was in a different location. Not a problem. When I reached for the door handle I noticed a sign on the door stating that the only day they had shop hours was on Friday. Thank goodness it was Friday or who knows what would have happened.
I perused the shop, saw a beautiful woven scarf conveniently displayed on the rack of yarns they used to weave the scarf. I picked up a couple of skeins of the yarn. I found a wonderful weaving book that I had been borrowing from the Weaver’s Guild but it was spiral bound. I picked it up without even looking at the price. Then on to the loom. There was one on display that was warped and had something being woven on it. I approached the clerk at the counter and told her I wanted to purchase a specific loom. She stammered a little before saying that they usually only stock the looms at Christmas time but she would go look. Of course they didn’t have one. Of course it didn’t say anything on their website about the loom only being stocked during the Christmas season. I was more disappointed than angry.
There I was; in Kentucky, depressed, disappointed, tired and hungry and without a place to stay. So, I sat in my car and looked for hotels. I found one nearby. When I pulled up I saw teenagers dressed in the classic band concert attire – white shirt and black pants- carrying instruments into the hotel. Cool, a band concert. Why not?
I checked in and as I approached the elevator, to go to my room, there were two people behind two tables stacked with carry out food boxes. The asked if I wanted some free food-pizza and carrot and celery sticks and ranch dressing and a bottle of water. There was no need to ask me twice. I settled into my room, still disappointed about the loom but feeling better because I was eating free pizza and vegetables. Two hours later I went back to the lobby to find a place to sit and knit wile I listened to the band concert. There was more food. Meat and cheese trays, pretzels, chips and more water. The man behind the table almost put a plate into my hand.
The concert was a senior high jazz band and it was wonderful. To add to the atmosphere, there was a wall of water (fountain) right behind where the kids were playing. I finished my knitting project, ate my food and enjoyed the concert and then returned to my room. On my way to the elevator I stopped and told the gentleman in charge of the food that I really appreciated it and it was exactly what I needed that night. He explained that he ran the non-profit organization that was providing food. The hotel provided breakfast every day and his organization made sure there was food for lunch and dinner every day of the week. I returned to my room feeling both comfort and joy. I searched the internet for something to do the next day. I found a shop where you could sign up to mix your own candle scent and pour your own candle. I made my reservation and went to sleep.
I got up, got ready and left for my day. It was a good day, I made a candle, looked at some local art, had a great lunch and returned to the hotel to find more free food. I had some carrot and celery sticks and dip. As I was packing my bag, in preparation for leaving the next morning, I stopped and read a card that was on the desk:
To Our Guests
In ancient times, there was a prayer for “The Stranger within out gates.” Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people and not solely a money-making organization, we hope that God will grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof.
May this room and hotel be your “second” home. May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. Even though we may not get to know you, we hope that you will be comfortable and happy as if you were in your own home.
May the business that brought you our way prosper. May every call you make and every message you receive add to your joy. When you leave, may your journey be safe.
We are all travelers. From “birth till death” we travel between the eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable for society, helpful for those you meet, and a joy to those who know and love you best.
I have not mentioned yet that every time I got on the elevator there were little boys in swim trunks with towels or there were wet footprints. While walking to breakfast one morning I noticed a room that would otherwise be an office but it was full of supplies-most notably, bottled water. Until I read the card on the desk in my room I hadn’t thought anything about this room. Then I slowly began to put the pieces together. Free food, three meals a day, seven days a week-there must be a need. Little boys running around like they own the place, swimming to their heart’s content, familiar with the staff to the point of being on a first name basis with some of them, a room full of donated supplies. This hotel was housing single parents and their children. How wonderful! There was a local non-profit making sure there was free food available every single day. The community was working together to provide for single parents who otherwise might be homeless – My heart swelled.
As I headed to my car the next morning, I grabbed a boxed lunch from the table by the elevator for the drive home – barbecue pulled pork sandwich, corn bread and a chocolate chip cookie. That hotel served more than single parents that weekend. I was slowly and quietly pulled from the pit of depression and disappointment to a state of peaceful joy.
My Patio 