(The Dorothy Draper designed lobby of The Greenbrier Hotel.)
I like hotels, don’t you? In fact, I could very easily live in a hotel like the characters in “The Object of Beauty” or Graham Greene. Especially if that hotel were in London, say. Or New York. Or Paris. As long as there were a decent bar and a good restaurant close by. The surroundings help too. Clean, well-lighted, beautifully furnished rooms and public spaces make me happy. Discreet and superlative service is just the thing for sweeping away the cares of the world in my opinion.
Like most men, I imagine, I am at my absolute best when I am dating. Something of a problem for we happily married types. Which is why Mrs. E. and I resolved to have an evening to ourselves every once in a while. Not that the mad social whirlwind in which we live isn’t fun, but it’s nice to have a moment to reflect on our shared history — our love story — for a change.
Which is why I am thrilled to find out about those off-season packages. Like this one at The Greenbrier. Snowshoe and Silver Creek offer skiing not too far away, mineral waters that Thomas Jefferson found refreshing, and a great indoor stream fed pool, if I remember correctly… . The whole package sounds delightful, doesn’t it?
The hard part is convincing Mrs. E. that the children will survive a night or two without us.
Mr. E – Excellent idea. Thanks to your suggestion I just booked a weekend for Mrs. A and I (sans the three little A’s) at the Homestead. My mother jumped at the chance to come into town and have the run of our manse with our three boys. That’s what I call a win-win! Here’s to an easy and elegant weekend!
Trey, you are a gentleman through and through. Well done. And don’t forget the champagne.
Mr. E – Our motto is “have bubbles will travel.” We wed in 2000. I am sitting on tons of 2000 bubbles. It’s high time to start popping corks!
Survive? They’ll thrive! And so will you.
Splendid Trey!
Mrs. B., my apologies for being absent as of late. Lots going on. I think we will, Mrs. E. is not so sure. Regardless, we have an MLK day off together for the first time in 10 or so years!
This just in: Keswick Hall is also running package deals. Mrs. E. pointed it out. A hint?