The High Life

No Dad, not your beer. This is for real, living with the big kids, the upper crust, the elite, the ritzy rich. I spent my second ever Easter away from home [the first back in high school on a trip to Poland] at Sea Island, Georgia's Cloister hotel [read: extravaganza].

Of course, I was there on business. But, my O my, what a business trip it was. They provided us complimentary rooms... perhaps the single greatest place I'll ever stay... ever. Robe, slippers, twice-daily housekeeping, valets, drivers, security, et al. The beach club was lovely, the food [looked] brilliant, the weather delightful.

Here, you'll see two views of my room--my individual room, with tub and shower, balcony, screen door, baby crib [I didn't understand that one], Easter cookies on my pillow, minibar, and VERY comfy bed. Then, the exterior of the building my room was in, and lastly, the main hotel building on Easter night.

I don't know that I could ever really live like that. I mean, well, I am playing the lottery tonight, but ... it's such a different way of life. Everyone is dressed to the nines, or, like a catalog family. Son is wearing the same yellow-and-blue-striped polo as Papa, Daughter has on a frilly dress and patent-leather-shoes. It's a bit too much I'd say. When we go on vacation, we head out to a cabin up in the Canadian wilderness on a gorgeous lake and spend the days sitting in plastic pool chairs around the dirt and trees, drinking beers, eating chips and laughing a lot. I don't think these people even realize such a life exists--although, to be fair, I guess I never realized their world existed either.

Oh well. I was back in reality the next day as we checked into the EconoLodge.

That's all from Princeton, Indiana. Thirteen days and eleven hours until my flight home and thus the end of this contract!