A Night in Room 506

Things have really been picking up for us!  Owen is doing an internship, supporting with fundraising, and social media.   In addition to my “Day job,” which is undergoing a serious transformation because the whole organization is restructuring (a good thing), Face Forward is in full swing, and it looks like we are going to have an amazing turn out this year!!

Because of all of this, we have had some days where we had an obscene amount of things to accomplish.  One day, a couple of weeks ago, I had to bounce from meeting to meeting, and then switch gears for an event, and then a concert that Owen and I were going to, at House of Blues.

I must say, I was really proud of how this day went.  It was the first time in a long time, I have had to be in my multiple roles in one day, and I was able to feel fully present at every single piece of the day.  Then, at a certain point, I made one last phone call, and made the decision it was time to put it away.  Owen and I had the opportunity to debrief a little and unwind at the open house, I wisely remembered to actually print our tickets for the concert, and we took the train down to Fenway.

Come to find out, the concert started an hour after I thought it did, so we actually had even more time, but it worked out.  We had awesome “ADA” seating, high up, with a private bar, and a great view.  We weren’t next to the stage this time, which worked out because parts of the concert were SUPER loud (or I’m just old.  Those kids and their damn rock and roll!)

It was a fun night.  I found myself doing a lot of “Oooooh! I remember this song!  I didn’t know they sang this!”  And enjoying a ton of high school nostalgia, and basking in chart toppers that graced the ORIGINAL Now Album (yes, kids, BEFORE there was even a number in the title… I think they’re up to 51 now?)

 

After the show, we both felt remarkably energized, and I was starving.  Usually, when I’m going to a show, I like to get dinner before hand, and transition a little better than bolting from a work event, but we had done it, and now we wanted food.  No big deal I figured, these crazy kids go out all the time and now the T is open late!  Let’s do it!  (Side note- we did not even have a drink during the concert, all of these decisions were made at full mental capacity…. Just saying)

We settled into one of our favorite places, Boston Beerworks, and enjoyed sandwiches and their epic sour cream and chive fries, before heading back towards the B line to go home. 

We arrived at the elevator in Kenmore Square and hit the button.  It didn’t light up.  We hit it again.  And again.  Nothing.  Both of our phones were dead at this point, so I asked a kid nearby what time it was, and he informed me it was 12:38.

“I don’t get it.  It’s open later, isn’t it?”

Then we realized the gate to the stairs leading to the train was also closed and locked.  Oh no.

Of course, at this point, I also had my old/new completely NOT portable scooter, so there went any idea of ubering, and we also had NO phones to even complete such a task.

The funny thing is, a couple of years ago this probably would have ruined our night, caused panic attacks and we would’ve made some foolish decision like walking the two miles home because “it’s not that far.”  But at this point in the game, we just looked at each other, laughed and went “What the hell are we supposed to do?”

Luckily, we were very centrally located.  We were still near all the bars of Fenway, there were other people around, and there was a hotel right across the street.

“There’s a bus that stops here.  We can ask the hotel where it goes, at least.  There’s that.”

Without having much other choice we headed into the (ritzy, historical) Hotel Commonwealth to beg for a brief lesson in MBTA since we have only taken a bus once in the 2 years we have lived here.  Luckily, we did discover that the hotel was accessible, the woman was pleasant, AND it smelled delicious.

She looked up the bus schedule and told us that there was a bus arriving in 6 minutes, which would eventually end up a couple blocks from our house!  Perfect.  So we went back outside and waited.

Soon a bus pulled up, far away from the curb, and we watched anxiously as the driver turned off the ignition…. Put his coat on…. Shut the doors to the bus…. And left.

The bus was silent, and dark. The street was dark, and it was almost 2 a.m. at this point.  

We looked at each other.

After thinking for a minute we concluded we had two options.  “Well… the hotel is right there, so let’s see if they can call us an accessible cab, and we can actually get home.   Or, I mean, I guess we could just see if they have a room.”

Here we were, two miles from our home, both having to work in the morning, completely stranded, with no way to get in touch with anyone.  Planning FAIL.

We headed back into the hotel and waited sheepishly while the woman at the front desk finished with the phone call she was making.  Once again she was super kind to us, and called about a wheelchair accessible cab for us, before even asking if we wanted to stay, which I thought was great. 

Unfortunately, the accessible cab would’ve taken “around a 2 hour wait.”  TWO HOURS. On a Thursday night at 2 a.m.  What?  I also had this terrible image of an “accessible cab,” arriving, at 4 a.m. and not actually being what we needed, and we would’ve had sat there for 2 hours, when we could have been, oh you know, sleeping.

Had it been early, we probably would’ve challenged our city and seen what arrived, but at this point I just wanted a bed.

“Ok then, do you have a room?”

“We have one room left actually, with 2 beds, but it’s not accessible, is that going to be a problem?”

No, Ma’am.  The problem has already occurred.  The problem would be sleeping in Kenmore Square, since we apparently can’t read fine print on new transportation policy.

A few minutes later we were checking into a GORGEOUS, historical, non- ADA room at the Hotel Commonwealth.  Truth be told, the “lack” of accessibility really didn’t matter, because the room was huge. 

The other funny thing, of course, cause… oh hey universe, you so funny.  The room was #506.  Our apartment number?  506.

Almost home… so close, but SO FAR!

Without having toothbrushes or any other clothes but those on our back, we set the alarm clock on the bedside Kindle Fire, and climbed into the cloud of an Eloise style bed, and passed out.

And slept like a dream.  When the sun was up, we turned around, checked out of our room, and headed home to begin the day.

I’m considering a business investment, because the hotel got a stellar review.

Our solution?  Crazy? perhaps.  Impulsive?  Maybe.  But we were able to make it happen, it meant that we got home safely, and were able to take care of ourselves to be able to be productive the next day.

Lesson learned.  No regrets.