March 2, 2013
The morning started abruptly at 6AM with tears and blood. Poor Alyssia, the dry heat from the Quality Inn, in St. Augustine, Florida was the culprit this time-taking into consideration, Alyssia's nose usually bleeds in dry conditions. After the blood subsided and the tears turned into a smile, it was time to check on our "driving house", which by the way, is at Campers World, one mile away from the hotel for repairs. I left the hotel at seven forty-five and started this morning walk. I gazed ahead pass the palm trees that lined Outlet Mall Blvd, as I sipped my coffee, listening to my Dubstep station, on Pandora one, via my Galaxy lll, to find out it was a shorter walk in my head than on foot. Nonetheless, I arrived, discussed and departed. I even managed to get a ride back to the hotel. This wasn't the first time a business offered such a service. I wonder now if this form of hospitality is also given to patrons in Maryland? I never really asked. I got back to the hotel around nine-thirty....only an hour and a half until check-out. After telling Brenda "they might not have a chance to look at it until Monday" I searched the web for an inexpensive hotel. I found through Hotels.com, a great price, of one hundred and nine dollars for two nights, just a few blocks away-across the I95. We packed all our things including a rectangle tub of food we removed from the refrigerator. No power, No refrigerator. I made sure my girls had their sweaters on (a cold front passing was passing through northern Florida) and hit the road. I had a laptop bag containing our "windows to the world" on my back, the tub of food carried in front and Alyssia holding the strap from the backpack. Shane dragged a suitcase on wheels, filled with cloths behind him and a black tote of bathroom, kitchen and children supplies. His mother, Brenda had Maritza by her side, a bag over her shoulder, two blankets and two pillows in her arms. I don't think I've ever seen someone bring pillows and blankets to a hotel, but that's cool. The super8 wasn't far. Walking with a three and a four year old did make it much, much farther.
The morning started abruptly at 6AM with tears and blood. Poor Alyssia, the dry heat from the Quality Inn, in St. Augustine, Florida was the culprit this time-taking into consideration, Alyssia's nose usually bleeds in dry conditions. After the blood subsided and the tears turned into a smile, it was time to check on our "driving house", which by the way, is at Campers World, one mile away from the hotel for repairs. I left the hotel at seven forty-five and started this morning walk. I gazed ahead pass the palm trees that lined Outlet Mall Blvd, as I sipped my coffee, listening to my Dubstep station, on Pandora one, via my Galaxy lll, to find out it was a shorter walk in my head than on foot. Nonetheless, I arrived, discussed and departed. I even managed to get a ride back to the hotel. This wasn't the first time a business offered such a service. I wonder now if this form of hospitality is also given to patrons in Maryland? I never really asked. I got back to the hotel around nine-thirty....only an hour and a half until check-out. After telling Brenda "they might not have a chance to look at it until Monday" I searched the web for an inexpensive hotel. I found through Hotels.com, a great price, of one hundred and nine dollars for two nights, just a few blocks away-across the I95. We packed all our things including a rectangle tub of food we removed from the refrigerator. No power, No refrigerator. I made sure my girls had their sweaters on (a cold front passing was passing through northern Florida) and hit the road. I had a laptop bag containing our "windows to the world" on my back, the tub of food carried in front and Alyssia holding the strap from the backpack. Shane dragged a suitcase on wheels, filled with cloths behind him and a black tote of bathroom, kitchen and children supplies. His mother, Brenda had Maritza by her side, a bag over her shoulder, two blankets and two pillows in her arms. I don't think I've ever seen someone bring pillows and blankets to a hotel, but that's cool. The super8 wasn't far. Walking with a three and a four year old did make it much, much farther.
There is something I have to confess about one of my character defects. When I start to notice events not coinciding with the holographic schematics, my mind has created, I start to become aggressive and insensitive to how others might be feeling and going through at that moment-and it hurts me to say-even towards my daughters. My mind focuses on the equation at hand, analyzes the best route to take. To insure the best "broken down to it's purest form" solution. What I tell myself to ease the pain or to justify the logic on my condition is, work now play later. Take care of your responsibilities, before you enjoy your luxuries. Sometimes I feel the guilt of my girls crying because Daddy's being mean, but through it all-no matter what-my girls love their Daddy and they know-not just hear-that I love them back.
We began our walk with a pep in our step and no intentions of stopping. That was until I started to feel my blood pressure rise as my fingers burned, carrying the weight of perishables. Alyssia unable to hold on to my book bag strap didn't help the situation. I started to project my frustration towards her, before realizing what I was doing. Brenda asked if I would like her to carry Alyssia on her shoulders to make it easier. I refused. "What a strong women Brenda is", All the things she was carrying and she still offered. Amazing. I said "no, that's alright, I've got her." I was wrong; about a 1/4 mile into our walk, the pain was unbearable-I couldn't take it anymore. I had to place what I was carrying on the ground, stand still-now holding Alyssia's hand-take a deep breath and try to lower my blood pressure. Brenda, Maritza and Shane were about fifteen feet ahead of us.....when an older gentleman, with white hair, standing about five feet tall, walked towards me and Alyssia. I was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., so I still haven't gotten used to the hospitality of south. I looked at the man, trying to contemplate his motives, when he waved his hand towards himself and said "come here". I gripped Alyssias hand tighter as I thought "What the hell" and started to approach him.
"Hi" he said. I responded politely with "How you doin?".
"You don't see too many people walking around here"
"We're just walking to the Super8 hotel down the road across the I95"
"Do you need a place to stay?"
"No thank you sir, our RV is at Campers World, about a mile down the road, it won't be ready until tomorrow, so were staying at the hotel for the night"
"Do you need any help" I looked at him, smiled and the first thing to come to my mind was, "would he be able to help me carry this bin of food....I chuckled inside my head and asked him if he could give us a ride.
"Sure" he said "if I have the room". He turned to walk to his small blue pick-up truck. I lifted the bin and told Alyssia to stay close to me-she did. I looked at the pick-up and said, "I think we can all fit". I called Brenda, Shane and Maritza over, and told them we were getting a ride. Smiles lit up their faces. We packed the back of the blue pick-up with everything we were carrying including Shane and myself. Brenda, Maritza and Alyssia sat inside the front of the vehicle. During the short ride to the hotel, I discussed with Shane, how odd I thought it was for a stranger to ask us if we needed a place to stay. He said "nothing like Southern hospitality". I agreed. After five minutes of driving we reached our destination. We jumped out the back, unloaded our things. Before lifting my pile to carry inside, I put my hand out and asked the gentleman for his name.
"My name is Joe".
"My name is Antonio. Thank you so much, for the ride."
"It was nothing.
I picked up the bin and started to carry it to the hotel entrance when Joe and I made eye contact one last time. He smiled, made a gesture to place something in my left hand(which was full at the time) and said something that would stick with me forever.
He said "God told me to give this to you".
"Thank you Joe."
I humbly excepting it. He would be insulted if I refused. We all waved good-bye, and thanked Joe again and walked to the hotels front door. We found out check-in time wasn't until two-it was almost twelve-but the clerk would help to rush the process. It seems everyone goes that extra mile when you have children with you or maybe they're just generally nice. I have learned a lot about people, places and also myself. Not everyone is out to get you. Does it really all depend on where you're at? Lost in my thoughts, I forgot I was holding on to Joe's offering. I looked at my left hand and to my surprise and astonishment, Joe had given us, four fifty dollar bills. I couldn't believe it. I looked around as if to thank him again, knowing full well he was long gone. To the white haired fellow named Joe, who taught me "strangers are only strangers, until you say hello",
Thank you.....Wherever you are.
"Hi" he said. I responded politely with "How you doin?".
"You don't see too many people walking around here"
"We're just walking to the Super8 hotel down the road across the I95"
"Do you need a place to stay?"
"No thank you sir, our RV is at Campers World, about a mile down the road, it won't be ready until tomorrow, so were staying at the hotel for the night"
"Do you need any help" I looked at him, smiled and the first thing to come to my mind was, "would he be able to help me carry this bin of food....I chuckled inside my head and asked him if he could give us a ride.
"Sure" he said "if I have the room". He turned to walk to his small blue pick-up truck. I lifted the bin and told Alyssia to stay close to me-she did. I looked at the pick-up and said, "I think we can all fit". I called Brenda, Shane and Maritza over, and told them we were getting a ride. Smiles lit up their faces. We packed the back of the blue pick-up with everything we were carrying including Shane and myself. Brenda, Maritza and Alyssia sat inside the front of the vehicle. During the short ride to the hotel, I discussed with Shane, how odd I thought it was for a stranger to ask us if we needed a place to stay. He said "nothing like Southern hospitality". I agreed. After five minutes of driving we reached our destination. We jumped out the back, unloaded our things. Before lifting my pile to carry inside, I put my hand out and asked the gentleman for his name.
"My name is Joe".
"My name is Antonio. Thank you so much, for the ride."
"It was nothing.
I picked up the bin and started to carry it to the hotel entrance when Joe and I made eye contact one last time. He smiled, made a gesture to place something in my left hand(which was full at the time) and said something that would stick with me forever.
He said "God told me to give this to you".
"Thank you Joe."
I humbly excepting it. He would be insulted if I refused. We all waved good-bye, and thanked Joe again and walked to the hotels front door. We found out check-in time wasn't until two-it was almost twelve-but the clerk would help to rush the process. It seems everyone goes that extra mile when you have children with you or maybe they're just generally nice. I have learned a lot about people, places and also myself. Not everyone is out to get you. Does it really all depend on where you're at? Lost in my thoughts, I forgot I was holding on to Joe's offering. I looked at my left hand and to my surprise and astonishment, Joe had given us, four fifty dollar bills. I couldn't believe it. I looked around as if to thank him again, knowing full well he was long gone. To the white haired fellow named Joe, who taught me "strangers are only strangers, until you say hello",
Thank you.....Wherever you are.
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