Fading Memory

The bathroom was clean, modern, and well-lit

I spent one summer in the 1960's traveling California with my grandparents. Every 2-3 hours they'd have to pull over to use the restroom. It was a circumstance that I couldn't identify with then, but now I do.

Leaving the house at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, we pulled into the Seattle-area hotel at 10 p.m. The total elapsed time was 16.5 hours, more than the 13 hours estimated by Google and Apple Maps. The excess 3.5 hours were spent buying gas (twice), ordering take-out, and answering nature's call.

We took turns at the wheel but were nevertheless tired when we pulled into the hotel driveway. We couldn't power through like we used to.

Drawer and closet space were minimal, clearly oriented toward the single business traveler. A small fridge, a safe, and coffee maker rounded out the amenities. The free WiFi signal was strong enough, though the hotel suggested an upgrade for streaming video.

But what sealed the deal was the large wall-mounted 4K TV a few feet from the bed, something I've always wanted at home. A cold one from the bar, sports in hi-res, and the powerful air conditioner (it was 90 outside): the day's exertions were a fading memory.