Everyone knows who Papa Hemingway is don't they? ....The Nobel Prize winner of Literature who lived in and loved Key West. Well.....Papa Mike took Gommy to Key West for a pre-birthday trip and what an adventure it was! Gommy can understand why Papa Hemingway loved Key West so much.
First, there were no organized plans. Just the thought of going to Key West for fun and a little Rest & Relaxation. No hotel reservations? No problem. But it's Labor Day weekend.....no problem. You have to have a little faith Goms. "We'll find something when we get there.....we always do", Papa Mike said. We truly have found over the years, that you are really better off walking up cold, right off the street to get a better deal. Nine times out of ten you will get a room much cheaper than if you had booked it ahead of time. You know.......those 'last minute deals'. But this was Labor Day weekend......
For a little background on this 'no arrangement' type of adventure that Grandpa (Papa) Mike is notorious for.....Grandpa has been to quite a few, top of the line, venues without a ticket before and he always does get a ticket and he gets it for much less than he would have had to pay.......if he had gotten one like most everyone else does. He has been to the World Series, several Superbowls, a number of finals in the most sought after sports playoffs known to mankind i.e. Final Four in Basketball, NCAA College playoffs in football & baseball, the Masters in golf.....really folks...it just goes on and on. And you know why Grandpa always gets in? Because he BELIEVES he will. There is never a doubt in his mind that everything will fall into place. And I can testify right here and right now.....that it does. At first, Gommy thought he was bonkers....but we have been together for a very long time now and I have seen him work his wonders over and over.
So now back to our adventure to Key West. A very good friend of Grandpas' loaned us a cute little Smart Car for our trip. It is really very roomy and quite fun. Everyone looks at you while you are driving along and you can almost hear them saying they can't imagine being in one themselves. Gommy has since learned that the Smart Car is made by Mercedes and is very, very safe. It has been tested over and over and it stands up very well in crash tests (God forbid). The car gets around 44 MPG and it is a hoot to drive. So, if we were going to get the best bang for our gas buck....it was the perfect way to roll.
Soooooo, as we were gassing up at the Snapper Creek service plaza on the Florida Turnpike, Grandpa gets a phone call from a business associate asking a question about work. Grandpa tells the man that we are headed to Key West and he will get back with him when we get back in town. The man proceeds to ask where we are staying and when Grandpa says we don't know yet......he tells us his daughter works at one of the nicest resorts in Key West and would we like him to call her for us. WOULD WE????? This is where Gommy is now starting to feel the beginning of the Papa Mike sort of serendipity that we have become accustomed to, about to be kicked into motion.
But knowing this particular resort is way over our budget (because Gommy had looked up accommodations online and when I saw this particular resort, I went right by it when I saw the prices), we didn't get too excited, and we kept driving along and enjoying the view. We were even planning on what to say to be polite, and that we would just thank him, but that we would have to decline the offer once he told us what the price would be. When the man did call us back....he told us the amount we would be paying and we thought we must have a bad connection....because there is no way we could have heard him correctly because the amount he told us was the same amount that Gommy had seen online for the very low budget ones we were contemplating. So, did we say yes????? D-U-H...Gommy almost jumped through the phone to hug the man!
As for this serendipity stuff......if you have read any of Gommy's Goodies before, you probably know that Gommy is a firm believer in Believing it to See it....not the other way around, "Seeing is believing". Grandpa Mike is always being called the luckiest guy or people just shake their head.....and some of them in disbelief. That is their prerogative....but Goms has seen it too many times to be doubtful any longer. The rest of the trip just kept getting better and better and filled with more of these unbelievable (to other folks) occurrences.
Like when we did arrive at this wondrous resort.....at check in, they gave us this 'You're a Star' card that entitled us to 50% off at all of the restaurants on the property....... AND a complimentary bottle of wine at their signature restaurant.....AND a gift certificate for a complimentary silver Dolphin pendant. Gommy was a little leery about the pendant thingy though, thinking it would be a thin, little souvenir trinket. Although I would have been very grateful for any sort of trinket to remind me of this great adventure. But Gommy was WRONG....when Goms went into the jewelry store to redeem the gift certificate...I was floored that it was not only gorgeous......it came with a beautiful silver chain. YIKES.....this was just getting better and better by the minute!
That night we watched the most glorious Sunset on the rooftop of this grand resort. There was also a live show going on with music and gobs of people being entertained along with us, as we waited for the sun to go down. Yes....there is a God and seeing the splendor of that sunset was a reminder to be even more grateful for all He provides for us.
The next day we got up (late) and went to have our half priced breakfast....YUMMO. We were feeling like Royalty by now. Then it was time to go walk around and see the sights and surroundings. There are plenty of sights to see in Key West. It is a laid back, funky sort of atmosphere in the Conch Republic. There is music pouring out of every eatery and bar on the square and the locals are singing their songs and the crowd is singing along with them. People are having a good time and everyone is friendly. That night we had a scrumptious meal and Gommy drank the whole bottle of complimentary wine by myself. Papa Mike is not a drinker.....not to imply that Goms is a sot or anything! But, Papa did have to guide me back to our room and I had the best nights sleep I have had in ages!!! Didn't even get sick. Thank goodness....
All in all.....Gommy had a great time on this pre-birthday vacation and Key West was the very best place for the celebration. Thank you Papa Mike for another grand experience and for making my birthday a special time to remember. I believe......I believe.....I believe.
Gommys' real birthday is tomorrow and we are going to my beautiful daughter's home for dinner with her beautiful family.......Life is Gooooood... Happy end of Summer boys and girls. Hugs & Mush, Gommy
