Air B and B Horror Story part Deux, Telluride Jazz Fest, Joshua, and Stevie, Remembering Life is a Journey

“What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.”
— Maya Angelou

Greetings from Telluride, CO.  We arrived at our Air B and B yesterday; our host had given us a code, we arrived about 5:00, and the code did not work.  If you remember, I had a similar thing happen in Charleston, South Carolina, a few weeks ago. So I was a little suspect.

My friend Joshua and I left our mountain home about 10:30; we took his dog Prince Charles Barkley to a friend’s home in Salida and then headed to Telluride.  We stopped in Gunnison for lunch, then headed straight to dump our gear at our “home” for three days.  

There was a code by the garage door; we tried the code, it didn’t work.  We found the entrance to the condo, and again, the code didn’t work.  I messaged my host through the app and did not get a reply.  I called her, texted her, and called her “office number” only to get more voice mail.  I should point out, neither Joshua nor I ever got upset, we have learned that everything happens for a reason, so we headed into town with no lodging for the night and got dinner.

After some fantastic food, we headed out on foot to try and find a place to stay. Unfortunately, every hotel was full; jazz Fest is in town; for a little bit, we thought we would be sleeping in our truck, but Joshua called a spot downtown and found “Stevie,” like Stevie Nicks.  We met Stevie and secured a room, then a room for three nights.  She was terrific; she rode with us to our parking spot, a kind woman with a big heart.

Our cost was similar to the Air B and B; I finally got a call from my host; it was an interesting conversation, no personal responsibility on her part, I was in the wrong, I could not follow directions.  I Air B and B my house; I know what it takes to be a good host, and this woman was far from a good host.  In the conversation, she advised that she was an executive chef for a very famous person. She recently had bunion surgery and could not meet me at the property; she thought someone must have snuck in and changed the code, folks, she was a little crazy.

But again, everything happens for a reason; the condo we are staying in is maybe 400 square feet.  It has two bunk beds, a small bathroom, living room, and kitchenette.  I took the top bunk, Joshua took the bottom, we laughed like kids sharing stories last night, I did sleep in a little, we are going to work a little this morning, and then head out for a Gondola ride.  We will watch jazz all day, eat some decent food and meet some folks in town for the festival.  The forecast before this morning was for rain all weekend; today, no rain until Tuesday. Everything happens for a reason.

My wife and her crew headed to a mountain town, I think Breckenridge is not sure what is on the agenda today, but I think they are having fun, which makes me happy.  I miss my wife, but a four-day holiday each year reminds me how much I love her.  Joshua is going on a walkabout while I get some work done; he got up early and knocked out his work; the plan is to enjoy this little mountain town.

It’s beautiful here, the mountains seem more significant, many 13 and 14er’s.  The people seem laid back; there is a substantial gay community here, everything seems to be in its place.  The food and drink are excellent, and the people seem very kind. I could see my wife and me spending some time here in the future.  

Well, there you go; turning lemons into lemonade seems to be a theme lately.  I never did hear from Air B and B, not a big fan of this company these days; their customer service is nonexistent.  I waited on a bot to answer my question for 3 hours before giving up.  I could have called them, but after the host agreed to refund my money, why bother but Air B and B? You need to work on your customer service; we were very close to becoming homeless.

Life is an adventure meant to be lived and enjoyed. Of course, things will not always go as planned, but there is always an opportunity to turn your misfortune into a gift or opportunity. So do not get upset, do not get frustrated, enjoy the journey, and things will eventually work out.  Speed bumps are part of life, and when you hit them, it’s a reminder to wake up, look around, and find a solution to whatever ails you.  Always remember,  life is a journey, enjoy every step.

“What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.”
— Maya Angelou