By deep nature, I am an “expect the worst, hope for the best” kind of person. So, although the package sent by my wife, Susan, was scheduled to arrive Monday, by 4:30 PM, I didn’t assume it would. I signed up for SMS updates, so when I got a text from FedEx announcing that it had arrived, I ran to the motel office.
When I got there, the package was sitting on the counter, and I ripped it open in front of Bernadine, the owner of the motel. She gave me a great deal on the room, and whispered the cost to me, asking me not to tell anyone. But, for reference, a Days Inn motel in West Yellowstone is $300 a night and this was FAR less than that.
When I told her I’d been holed up in my motel room eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, she said, “You should have told me you didn’t have any money – I’d have given you some!” I told her that letting me stay here for three nights was already generous, and that she was bound to be a highlight of my adventure. She still won’t let me hug her. 😁
After this, I went to the grocery store and bought a DIET COKE! (Oh, how I missed you!) As I was walking in, I saw a cute dog and stopped to pet it. I ended up talking to Annabelle’s mom and dad for a few minutes, and told them the story. They don’t live here (they’re from Idaho Falls), but they said if they’d known of my situation, they’d have made sure I was taken care of. They were very careful to ensure I was OK now, and I finally had to show them my new debit card to reassure them.
After I dropped off my groceries, I went to a restaurant and ordered a big meal. The owner rang me up, and said, “Wow, you’re hungry!” So I told her the story about my journey, the lost wallet and the PBJ sandwiches. She said, “You should have come in here. We would not have let you leave hungry!”
Although I don’t like sitting around in a motel room, this was a really minor inconvenience, thanks to my wonderful wife, and I will cherish the wonderful people I got to meet here in West Yellowstone, Montana.
And Bernadine, at the Ho Hum Motel in West Yellowstone, will be receiving something in the mail, but I don’t know what yet. She likes cats, so I am open to suggestions!
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