The Beauty that surrounds

In High School I worked at the Airport Quality Inn. My job was to do whatever the manager told me so I did laundry, carting towels and sheets to the Maids, helped stock the bar, cut the grass and drive the van to the Travis Field Airport to pick up guests staying with us. My friend Steve Brantley worked there too and we mostly had a good time. The best part of the job was driving the van … you’d be surprised how long a mile long ride can take. There were several important perks to my position. The pilots and stewardess tipped a quarter each for the ride. There was nothing better than a packed van! We got to eat for free and as anyone growing up knows, eating out is always better than eating in! They would cook us whatever we asked. They didn’t care if we stole beer. We never stole a lot but always just the right amount. We had a set of keys that we could use at night when we were off meaning that I could always say to my date, “Hey baby, I can get us a hotel room if you want.” The Maids, all African American, had a terrific sense of humor and Steve and I mostly hung around with them. They sang Gospel songs and cracked dirty jokes as they raked the shag carpet of each room. We loved them and they loved us. So I have a strong affinity for people who work at hotels. I’ve witnessed how unthankful people can be for a clean room, a nice atmosphere and good food while traveling or vacationing. I’ve seen the aftermath of how people trash rooms and just leave stuff anywhere because they know someone else has to clean it up. I travel a lot and stay in a lot of places always leaving my rooms as clean as I found them. I hang towels up and don’t leave them on the floor. I say “Thank you” to everybody who contributes to making it a good stay. Over the years, I’ve become good friends with Maids who work at these places … Martina and Angela in St. Martin. Carlos who runs the restaurant there is one of my best friends. I’m on a cruise ship today watching people eat breakfast. It’s like a war has broken out as people fight for food. Discarded napkins dance across the deck in the wind. Plates of uneaten food are stacked on tables for someone else to clean up. I no longer have an appetite. Turning my back on all of this, I watch the ocean roll by … vast, clean, majestic and perfect … just the way God created it. The sun is shining over my shoulder and I feel my skin tan. Clipping my I-pod to my ears, I tune them all out to focus on the beauty that surrounds me while whispering prayers for forgiveness for those who don’t give a damn.