The best advice, when life hands you lemons, is to make lemonade. Not always an easy thing to do. Well, I’ve been handed some lemons. Lots of lemons. Cancellations have been flooding in – AGAIN. Between school starting, this new covid variant, and threats of violent weather, people were opting not to travel to Vicksburg. August is usually our month of European travelers. But, we all know they are still forbidden to travel to the US. So . . . . here we sit. Again. With a houseful of empty rooms and a lap full of lemons.
Now, I like lemons. I have nothing against them. But, I certainly don’t need 400 pounds of them. I can take an occasional bite from a raw lemon and think, “that’s not too bad.” But I really don’t want to suck on lemons all day long, day after day.
We dodged a bullet with hurricane Ida here in Vicksburg. I am ever so grateful for that. However, it doesn’t bring back the lost revenue of those who canceled their reservations as a result. Too late now to salvage that income. (Cue happy music) But, some sugar came a couple of days after Ida blew over. (Sorry to all those poor souls up north who suffered greatly when she changed course.)
I got a reservation over the internet for 5 days in a row. Say what? Five whole days at my inn! Say it isn’t so. Then I noticed the address on the reservation. La Place, Louisiana. One of the hardest hit areas from Ida’s wrath. They took a direct hit. Some poor displaced couple decided to come stay with me for a few days until their power was restored. Those poor folks. It easily could have been us.
The next day, more sugar came pouring in. My phone was ringing off the hook with other evacuees looking for a cool, dry place with running water to lay their weary heads for a few days. My nearly empty house filled up in several short hours. I did a little juggling and found a spot for as many folks as I could. I raced to the supermarket and stocked up on supplies.
Now, I hate to bask in my good fortune at someone else’s expense, but the Lord really does work in mysterious ways. Not only was I given a whole lot of sugar to go with my previously delivered lemons, I was also given some ice, a pitcher, and a big ‘ole spoon to stir it all up! Good things come to those who wait.
Have you guys ever been rewarded with good fortune at someone else’s bad luck? It’s a really weird feeling to rejoice when so many are suffering, but I was silently rejoicing when my phone kept ringing. I’m sorry if that makes me a bad person, but, as a small compensation, I did offer nice discounts to everyone fleeing from southern Louisiana. And I made concessions for them that I would never have done for “normal” guests.
Word of the Day: Birr
Fun fact about me: I have a tendency to be too nice sometimes. I often get taken advantage of because I say yes, thinking I’m being nice, when I should have said no.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, September 2021. Images by Pexels, Google and giphy.com
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You have no reason to feel you are basking in someone’s misfortune. You have had more than your share of your own and if you didn’t charge these folks you’d be the next ones needing assistance. Glad it is working out for all parties involved. Rock on, Patricia!
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Thanks Al. Having a houseful sure made Labor Day weekend feel “normal.” It was looking pretty bleak for a few days. I guess we all have our moments of good and bad luck so we should take what comes our way when we can.
Did you feel the effects of Ida up where you are? I saw some of the pictures from all of that horrible flooding in the northeast. The west is burning up and the east is flooding out. Such a shame.
Thanks for chiming in on the conversation. I hope you have a wonderful week.
Patricia
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Fortunately, it missed us. We were in the crosshairs until it changed course or we would be experiencing that flooding. We are one block from the Chesapeake Bay/Atlantic Ocean convergence and have a fresh water lake behind our house. I carry flood insurance, but always hope I am wasting my money.
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So you dodged a bullet too. Yay!! Smart to carry the extra insurance. In my case I’ve found that whenever I need the insurance the insurance company always has some reason why I’m not covered anyway. (head on desk.)
Here’s no never needing insurance!!
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I am with Al, sometimes things roll your way and sometimes they don’t. The past year and half has thrown you and the inn for a loop. In your business the inn is a place where folks can rest after a day of enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of your fair city. Or simply know they have a comfortable place to rest and plan for the next steps. Take care and enjoy the lemonade. Peace.
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I am ever so thankful for all the guests that find me. I try to make them all feel special no matter what the circumstances. In this case, everyone was very cheerful despite their problems. I’m glad I was able to help if even for just a few days while they regrouped.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Patricia
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I say you should celebrate however and whenever you can, and it was so sweet and generous of you to offer discounts and accommodate those people who needed refuge from the hurricane. Giving people a lovely and homey place to stay, whether it’s on vacation or temporary evacuation, is priceless. Those people will come away with nice memories to counteract the negative. Go you, and bring on the Mississippi lemonade!
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Thanks. I tried to do my part by not making their experience even worse. I hear so many gas stations and convenience are really price gouging in that area so I feel like I rose above all of that mess. Hopefully those folks will remember my kindness and pass it along to others.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope the rest of your week is worry-free.
Patricia
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