One of the Christmases during the Ohio years we came home to Utah to visit, but the other year we stayed there. It was hard on Mom to be away from all our extended family at the holidays. So, we decided to make an adventure out of our time off school and take a trip to Washington D.C. for New Year’s Eve.
As we entered the city and wound our way through the streets, we were wide-eyed with wonder at the big city and all it had to offer. Huge buildings, busy streets, the White House and other monuments. It was so much to take in and I couldn’t wait to get out and explore, but first, we needed to find a place to stay.
It wasn’t the type of place for a Motel 6, so the best Dad could find was the downtown Marriott. We pulled into the steep driveway and found it was valet parking only. The valet rushed out to our van and, before we could say anything, pulled open the sliding side door. We were unprepared so out fell a large bright orange Gott cooler we’d brought to stay hydrated on the long drive. The valet had to go chasing after it as it rolled down the long driveway.
To my ever-increasing horror, the bellhop then wheeled a golden cart out to transport our luggage. My face started to burn. We opened the back of the van to reveal that all our belongings were in huge black garbage sacks – we didn’t own a stitch of luggage. They obligingly plopped the bulging bags in an awkward heap on the cart and started wheeling it inside.
There was a ball going on in the hotel and the lobby was filled with well-dressed guests – all adults, I couldn’t help but notice. My face was bright red and I determinedly stared at the ground, wishing no one would see us, but knowing full well we were quite the sight. We made a beeline for the elevators, but unfortunately, that wasn’t all. We got into the elevator with a woman in a gorgeous yellow satin backless gown. Kyle (4 years old at the time) practically screamed, “Hey, Mom! She’s naked!”
But after that humiliating spectacle, the trip got much better. In the evening we left the hotel to walk the streets. We were stopped by a limo driver just outside the hotel. My parents were looking around frantically, expecting to be mugged, as he explained he was a magician. Seemed a bit far-fetched to them, but to us kids, we were in awe as he showed us some tricks and then made balloon animals for all of us. Mom and Dad were relieved to find he was just being thoughtful.
We continued down the busy night streets and decided to hop on a horse-drawn carriage for a tour of the city. It was bitter cold but the most fairy-tale moment, riding in an expensive carriage around the bustling city filled with the most brilliant lights. Something so different than the life we knew. Later we visited many of the monuments and the Smithsonian which was so fantastic to me as a young girl. And on New Year’s Eve, we heard cheers and fireworks at the stroke of midnight from the warmth of our hotel room. We each got to buy a souvenir and Chad picked a magic kit, inspired by that kind limo driver. I’ll never forget how incredible that trip was for me.
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