There is nothing truer in life than these words, "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things." Sometimes I wish it were not so, but, it is. The truth of these words was never so evident than when Tori and I arrived in Denver, late Thursday night. Almost from the moment that we saw the outside of our "hotel" we knew that "opposition" was about to hit us square on the nose. Words to the wise, when making a hotel reservation, only book one at a concept you know or after a personal recommendation from someone you know and trust.
Anyway, the lobby was OK, but when I was told we would have to drive around the block to get to the parking lot, I knew I was in for trouble from my beautiful, loving, understanding and compassionate eternal companion. Sure enough, as we turned the corner into the parking lot the "3 star hotel" room we thought we had booked turned into a "ZERO star motel" room.
Just as soon as I opened the door and saw the ash tray on the table, I knew that the non-smoking room that we thought we were getting turned into a smoking room of the highest magnitude. I don't believe there has ever been a time in the life of room 228 that it has ever been a non-smoking room, not even during construction! Well, needless to say Tori had some concerns about our accommodations. To compound the problem, the "hotel" was over booked due to a convention in town (I should have know something was up, because as I was checking in, a couple was at the front desk complaining that there was already somebody else in their room when they put in the key and opened the door!).
After going to a quickie mart to buy paper towels to put all around the room, so we didn't have to walk on the carpet and after spraying the room with a mixture of colognes, I began the task of trying to find us another room for the night and the rest of the trip. There was absolutely nothing in town, north, south, east or west. Finally, about 2 AM MST, we bit the bullet and circled the wagons and went to bed in our urine smelling, smoke infested, dried macaroni on the floor, dust everywhere, paper towel covered floor, bath tube that wouldn't hold water downtown "hotel" room.
There is a "good" ending to our Rocky Mountain High adventure. We did not get shot. We only had to endure unbelievable profanity in the parking lot for about 45 seconds. The "ladies" talking outside our room at 4 AM did take their conversation inside after I asked and the only "price" we had to pay was the "inconvenience".
We are now SOOOOO enjoying the blessings of a clean room in quiet surroundings in Aurora. It's amazing what a little forced perspective will do for a person to be more appreciative? That must be a part of the reason for "opposition". Wouldn't it be nice, though, if we could maintain appreciation and gratitude without the opposition?
Tori at the golf course (2nd Day)
