A few weeks ago we headed to North Carolina for a much needed vacation and my wife was so anxious to get away that she suggested we drive halfway the day before we were scheduled to leave. I had built up some points on my Marriott rewards card, so we were able to stay for free in Beckley, West Virginia, which is the halfway point between North Canton, Ohio and Charlotte, NC. There were only two hotels to choose from so I carefully examined both hotels to make sure we got the best one. Each had a pool, which would earn me points for being the best dad in the whole world, but only one of them had a free breakfast. The choice was obvious – hotel with the pool and free breakfast. About an hour before we arrived, my wife called the hotel to inquire concerning the pool hours. I could hear the disappointment in Leah’s voice as she hung up the phone. The hotel I had chosen did sport a pool, but too bad it was outdoor. The kids were ticked. I went from being the best dad in the whole world to being the Clark Griswold of vacation. The sarcastic side of me blurted out, “Well, we can fill up the bathtub!” No one laughed and for the next sixty minutes, the kids (and Leah) whined. I really did feel bad. In my attempt to do good, everything turned out wrong. I hate it when that happens.
Postscript: As a gesture of kindness for my pool amenity oversight, the kids got to go to a Super Wal-Mart in West Virginia and pick out a toy. Leah didn’t get anything.
