I can’t believe I missed the date. Since April 4, it has been two full years since that Friday in 10th grade when we drove home and discovered that a tree had smashed into our house. Our house. Well, not really our house since it was temporary for us, but still.
And so, from there, we moved from Grandma’s house to hotel to hotel to hotel to hotel.
Even though my personal life was consumed with feelings of cabin fever, I can think of some of the good things about the hospitality business:
1.) Food. It was nice to have to scrap up a crisp dollar bill for snacks every day, or even the occasional $1.75 drink. Breakfasts were nice, at least they were consistent. Consistently the same! At first, dinner consisted of Wendy’s, but then my mother thought take-out was healthier. Then came the TV dinners that I hate (oh boy!).
2.) Space. Five old-enough people cannot seriously survive in a room made for short-term stay, right? Oh no! Of course that is wrong! Having feet in your mouth or being punched in the diaphragm area is splendid.
3.) Losing things. That’s pretty nice for an IB [International Baccalaureate] student, don’t cha’ think?
There are many more but I’m just happy I’m in my own house (well, temporarily) in my own bed (well, temporarily). Now, I can breathe freely.
Recent Immigration Stories
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.