Hilton and Why Did He Ask ME to do That?

Last Sunday night, I came home to an open bag. Josh was holding my snake skin bag (which I knew was not for him), and he said hurriedly, "pack up your stuff for one night." Oh- this had to be good. Or not. I told him this could mean one of two things-- either he was fed up with my pregnancy- mania-avoiding-all-chemicals-at-all cost and he was kicking me out for a night :) , or we were going on a mini-vacay. Much to my pleasure, we were going to the Hilton. Josh said he thought it would be fun, since he knew the paint fumes from the decorating were, in fact, giving me a headache. What a sweetie!

We arrived pretty late. Josh unloaded our luggage and sent me to check-in while he parked. Famous last words-- "Courtney, if you wouldn't mind, ask them if they have any free upgrades." With that, he gave me his credit card and said he'd be right back. I went up to the desk and met a young, blonde woman with a European accent. She welcomed me, and asked where Josh was (since his name was on the card), and politely answered my questions about the free upgrades with "We do not have complimentary upgrades, you will have to pay for one." Hmmm. That is what I was asking for, was it not? No, thank you. Josh came in a couple of minutes later. Thank goodness, because they needed him to process the credit card.

But the whole time I am waiting, I am thinking to myself--- why did he ask me to ask about the upgrade? Sure, it was nice to be believed in--like I could do things as well as he does in this area. If you didn't know better, you'd think Josh was related to my paternal grandfather --and I'm talking closer than by marriage ties. You see, my grandfather, Jack, a Baptist preacher, thinks that Sears always has a red carpet entrance, because that is what is displayed when he walks in. He steps foot in a Sears store, with no lie, a tool that is decades old, in his hands and they start throwing money at him like they forgot to pay their tithe at church and want to make it up to him! It's crazy--this happens to him all the time....and with Josh, many times, the same things happens~ Many free upgrades we have gotten with the simple question he asks.

So when he comes in, he respects my whisper that it didn't work, and does not try it for himself. HOWEVER, he steps up to the counter and the European accent pipes up, "You have stayed with us before right?" Josh gets a funny look on his face because he knows how THIS appears. I just stare at him to see what comes next. He said, "Actually, I've never stayed here before." The blonde girl was just so sure he was a regular. "Are you sure? You look so familiar!" Ok, so if I didn't think about it while I was waiting for him, I sure thought of it now....why didn't HE ask for the free upgrade????

Then an even funnier thing happened which is so bizarre, it is really one of those you would have had to have been there moments. The previously staunch blonde and her friend start laughing after another guy they work with is shocked at a piece of paper he picks up. He was in his 30's-- seemed like a pretty together businessman. The two ladies are cracking up. He apologizes to me, because at this time I am staring at him. He holds up the sheet of paper for me to see---it's an 8 1/2 x 11 black and white portrait of owls. He goes on to say, "I'm terribly afraid of owls, and they know it. They try to get me all the time. I really was scared this time." WEIRD. I feel like I am in the twilight zone, except I am very aware of time and space in the respect of organizing all of my one-liners to tease the supposed Hilton frequent flyer when we get to our room.

Then the poor bellman is still patiently holding our luggage all this time (yes, luggage, even though it was only one night!) He agrees to take it up to our room. Rather, he INSISTS. He then asks Josh and me how our long travel was today. Since we really just went down the street to get there (literally less than a mile), Josh just smiled and said "it was fine."

It was lovely. White down comforter with satin pinstripes. A clean, fresh room. We had less than 8 hours to be out of there. But it was blissful, nonetheless. Leaving early in the morning reminded me of my dear friend Ashley and her tales of leaving the Houstonian early on Saturday morning when she goes to stay with her husband, Tae, as he works on his MBA program. You know what I mean, Ashley.

Funny stories, at least they were in the "wee small hours of the morning." And oh, if you need someone to ask about getting something free or on discount, or need to return something you bought twenty years ago and it's now rusted, ask Josh or Jack---not me. Because, truth be told, in between last Sunday and this post, he asked and got a discount at the mall and he got hundreds of dollars off a labeled "no-haggle" auction item. I tell you, I just don't have the charm. But if you can't beat them, marry them!