I Need Some Cheese to Go With This Post!

Ready? Cue violins and get the tissues. This is where we were last night- yeah, it was gorgeous. Ok, maybe a little above our regular status in life- I think we gave that away when we pulled up in our large diesel truck with the big steel tool box attached to the box AND when the bell hop insisted on taking our our backpacks and numerous plastic bags loaded with snacks from the supermarket. I haven't been in such a fancy place before- we got a great deal a room, but the in room menu nearly knocked me over! Ever had a $25.00 omelet? I still haven't.

Ever since the Skipper (who, BTW, I love very, very much) messed up his sciatic nerve playing hockey, I have had some concerns about us attending our conference since so much sitting is involved. God opened several doors enabling us to go, so I really, really, really thought everything would work out. I still don't get why it didn't. Last night was unbearable for my hubby- way too much sitting, terrible night sleeping... He woke up this morning and very sincerely apologized to me, but said that there was just no way he could do that for two more days... I got out my Bible and read, prayed,etc, as pathetic, hot tears escaped from my eyes. God can see bigger than I, and for whatever reason, it was just not meant to be our getaway weekend right now. So, with that, we checked out and the valet parking attendant brought us back our truck- it was too high for the underground self parking. Picture this- puffy eyed red headed woman trying to look inconspicuous as she stands on steps at the grand hotel entrance with about 4 stuffed white grocery bags, waiting for her diesel chariot. The attendant pulls up and attempts to back in, and the already big loud truck starts honking...and honking some more. The attendant had not closed the driver's door completely, and in that case, the truck automatically honks when you try to reverse...Our getaway was not too subtle. We headed off to the ER down the road and got some strong pain meds, which enabled the Skipper to function more normally.

Lest you think that I think this situation was catastrophic, let me assure you that I realize that there are many, many, many worse things that could happen! It had just been so long since we had been away, and I was really looking forward to some marriage enrichment. I already can see the humour in it. Moments I am not necessarily proud of:

- having a pity party by myself last night after our last session, when my husband dragged himself up to our hotel room, had a bath to loosen up his hip and then passed out on the bed, while discussing what I was going to eat for dinner. I was in a quandry as I didn't want to eat downstairs by myself, but didn't want to order room service as it added $5.50 to already outrageous prices. He assured me that it was ok to order what I wanted and then fell asleep and was not aware of my plight when downstairs did not answer my telephone call to place my order. I shed a few tears for my sad plight, ate 2 supermarket doughnuts that were on the nightstand, and watched home reno shows till I was tired enough to sleep.

- gazing out our hotel window at the snow covered grandeur outside and loudly saying "It SUCKS that we can't go enjoy this!!!" And when my hubby, who was stretching on the floor helpfully groaned out "You could go out for a walk." I hysterically replied "NO, I can't, because we are not like you men. We grow up knowing that if we go out alone in strange places, we can get attacked and murdered!" ( I said that very similarily to how Michael from The Office makes his grand statements). Husband wisely did not attempt to reply to that one.

-being the picture of understanding this morning, yet framed in martyrdom as I gazed at my hubby and asked him to please go downstairs and let them know we would not be able to continue to attend the conference. ( Remember, he can barely walk at this point). When he asked if I would come too, I quietly shook my head and choked out, " I can't, I might cry and embarrass myself." Like he's not going to feel embarrassed when he has to crawl through the lobby to go talk to the organizers! (just so you don't think I am super evil, he was able to do it upright)

You know what though, it is all about perspective- we did get 24 hours by ourselves, even if it was not as planned.

And,

praise the Lord for:

a full credit to a future marriage conference of our choice!

ps- this song reminds me how much I love violin music- isn't it pretty? It makes me want to walk around green English country sides in the misty mornings and bump into Mr Darcy, I mean, the Skipper. Of course, I may not see him crawling by in the tall grass... (I don't know if it the late hour, or if it is just more of my bad habit of thinking my jokes are hilarious, but I am shaking with laughter picturing that!