Wonky

Sometimes you do something so scatterbrained you have to set down and think about it. I found myself setting down on a bench in sunshine yesterday morning doing just that.

I woke up early yesterday morning, made a list and packed my bags. I wanted to be at the Marriott in Provo, Utah at 11:30 for a writer’s conference.  The activities started at 12:30 so I thought arriving there an hour early would give me enough time to check in, get settled and head down to whatever ballroom they had reserved.  I pulled into the parking terrace at 11:28 feeling pretty good about things. Unfortunately my normal routine is to run a bit late, so I was doing really well. With my hotel confirmation in hand, I headed into the classy hotel lobby and waited my turn to check.  I looked down at the dates listed the paper. May 9 through the 11^th.

What?!

It was May 2.

Then the hotel desk clerk was ready for me. I think his name was Matt.

Matt: “How can I help you today?”

Beckie: “I really hope you can. I think I scheduled my room for next week instead of this week and I’m here for the conference. ”

Matt: “Are you here for the Women’s Conference?”

Beckie: “No, the LDStorymakers conference.”

Matt: “That’s next week.”

Beckie: ???

Matt: “…so your reservation is correct. Yours rooms will be ready for you on the 9^th through the 11^th.”

Beckie: “….ok.” Stares at the ceiling as if the answers as to how she could screwed-up by a whole week would be written there in red.

Matt: “Can I help you with anything else?”

Beckie: Smiles pathetic smile, “No thank you.”

I walked outside in the sunshine, looked up at the blue sky. Thought of my favorite swear word that starts with Sh… and saw a bench. I sat on it, looking at my car and trying to decide what I should do next.

Matt came out for some reason and joined me. I liked Matt. He was Samoan I think, with a nice blue blazer and a big smile. He sat down, asked me if I would come back next week, I said yes. I told him I was a little overwhelmed because I had  not only made arrangements at work but with my six kids and had everything ready for the conference. He said he understood completely. We sat some more. He said I should go shopping for the day and not go back to work.

 Like I said, I liked Matt.

After calling my husband and my boss, I decided the same thing.

The day was not a loss. I shopped for things I really didn’t need but enjoyed buying anyway and ate my favorite chicken wrap at Red Robin. The day wasn’t as good as my conference but overall, not bad.

So if you every find that you’ve done something a little wonky, I suggest finding a bench in the sun and a friend named Matt.