Oops!! Wrong place...at the right time...

Beautiful scenery from the shore to the hills. Redbuds waking from winter sleep. Yellow daffodils standing tall in fields. Blue birds and wrens flying from fence post to tree limb. Mountain views in the distance. Traveling from home to a writers conference filled my eyes with interesting sights along the way. Alan drove and I was in charge of the map, the phone and the printed directions. ( I like to be prepared for any circumstance involving directions).

We left home on Thursday and headed for a writing conference. The hotel had been booked months ago. Suitcases were packed, snack bags filled with pretzels, crackers, trail mix and of course, chocolate. Water and bottled tea were placed in the cool pack. Toiletries packed. Jackets placed on the back seat of the car, just in case the weather was cooler. (Yes, the temperatures were cooler and we were thankful for jackets).

A few stops along the way to stretch our legs and visit the local rest area. The 5 hours trip went very well. The directions were followed and we arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon.

“Ah, there’s the hotel. I’ll be glad to unpack and rest a bit before the conference.”

Alan drove the car to the front door of the hotel. I gathered empty snack bags and prepared to throw them in the hotel trash can outside the main door.

Car turned off, doors opened, we stood and stretched. I threw the trash away.

We walked to the main entrance of the hotel, the sliding glass doors opened and I looked at the next building.

“Oops! We’re at the wrong hotel. Our hotel is the next one.”

We had stayed at the same hotel last year so we should have remembered. Of course, traveling over 300 miles can make any person tired. Mistakes are easily made.

Alan and I laughed and shared how we were glad we didn’t go inside and try to register at the front desk. There would not have been a room in our name.

We went back to the car, drove to the next parking lot and started over.

Interesting conversation with the lady who checked us in at the correct hotel. She grew up in the same neighborhood area where I lived  as a young girl. That was in Virginia and now we live in South Carolina. We shared a nice chat. I wondered if God had us arrive at a particular time to share fellowship with this young woman. The odds of meeting someone from the same neighborhood was very small.

We did not share with her how we went to the wrong hotel first. God had a plan for us to meet her and yes, His plan is always best.

The conversation brought joy to us and joy to her, recalling special memories of times gone by.

Can you think of a time when you were in the wrong place at the right time? Share your story.

Have a blessed week,

Mimi

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