Wake Up Call

Do you ever find yourself stepping out of your daily routine, experiencing new technology, driving new roads, trying new food, buying something you really don't need? Of course, everyone does this. But I experienced my "wake up" call over the weekend.

We rented a townhouse at a Golf Resort in Delaware last weekend. We were attending our grandson's baseball tournament at Sports at the Beach. I had been looking forward to this weekend for a long time, not just for the baseball competition, but the opportunity to stay in a new townhouse (one year old).  Since the hotel the team was staying in offered only double beds in the rooms, it meant we'd need two rooms. The cost added up and it was a no-brainer to see the 3-bedroom 2 1/2 bath townhouse was a much better deal for the same price.

The weekend began with driving rains and little chance of any sun showing before the first game was to begin. We drove to the Eastern shore Friday afternoon seeing two accidents along the way and almost getting run off the road ourselves. The only time the rain let up was when we crossed the  Chesapeake Bay Bridge. That was nice.

Anyway we arrived at the townhouse where we found the key where the owner said it would be. There was combination lock box at the side of the front door and although the combination was easy to do, opening the little door to the box was another story. After bumbling around with that box for 15 minutes we opened the door to a beautifully decorated (something out of Home and Garden Magazine) great room. After unloading the car and exploring the house to find the bedrooms and bathrooms, and laundry, Dick spent an hour figuring out how to operate the big screen televisions. Then we checked the thermostat and saw it was still set for Air Conditioning and we spent the next hour figuring out how to change the digital settings to heat and setting the temperature above 70 degrees. That control box even had internet settings on it!

Now our house is 45 years old and has not been updated with recent technology. I really didn't like having to learn how to use a gas stove, operating all the choices on the refrigerator door (ice cubes or crushed ice, purified water or plain water, light or no light), or choosing the quickest way to heat a cup of water in the microwave. I really felt challenged every time I used an appliance, including the washing machine. (Yes, I did do a load of laundry while we were there.) After this experience, I either have to get with the times and make some home improvements or not rent such a beautiful new townhouse again.

I almost forgot, the tournament was delayed and finally cancelled due to rain. That's the first time that has happened.