Every time I looked on Facebook last summer, I saw friends post pictures of romantic getaways. New York City, the Bahamas, Las Vegas. I was jealous.
The intriguing thing was that all of these jet setters were divorced. With their kids safely stowed with their ex-wife or ex-husband for the weekend, the divorcées were free to travel with their new love interests.
“Married people never go anywhere,” I complained to my husband.
“It doesn’t have to be like that,” he said. “Let’s go someplace this winter for our 16th wedding anniversary.”
After consulting with the grandmas to arrange for childcare, we booked a three-night stay at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort on Vancouver Island. Hot springs, endless tapas, massages, skiing on Mount Washington and our own log cabin in the woods — it seemed like the perfect mini break. Plus, the Canadian dollar was so weak that it was like everything was 30 percent off.
For months, any time the kids stressed me out, I closed my eyes and imagined relaxing in the hot mineral pool at Tigh-Na-Mara. But on Christmas, just a few days before we were set to leave for Canada, I slipped on ice and severely injured my tailbone.
There was no way I could handle the journey to Vancouver Island. Five hours on a donut pillow? No thank you. With great regret, we canceled our vacation.
“It’s official,” I told my husband. “I’m a pain in the butt.”
“I’ve know that for years,” said my husband as he brought me a mug of soup, “and I love you anyway.”
“The only thing I can do right now is lie sideways, and walk a little bit,” I said.
“What if we spent one night in Seattle instead?” he suggested. “At least you could lie in bed and watch cable television.”
He had my attention. “Let the adventure begin,” I said as I turned off Netflix.
Moments later, we discovered that Priceline.com offered mysterious “express deals” for Seattle. We bid $110 on an unspecified four-star hotel. After we had paid our money, Priceline told us we booked a room at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle. The Hotel Monaco is a boutique hotel located on Fourth Avenue, in easy walking distance to the Seattle Art Museum and Pike Place Public Market.
When we arrived at the hotel the next day, we expected a typical room with a queen bed. Instead, they upgraded us to the ambassador suite on the top floor and celebrated our anniversary with complimentary champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. From one window we looked down upon the Seattle Public Library, from the other, we saw the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.
That night while we lingered in the lobby over the complimentary wine hour, we didn’t miss Canada at all. We didn’t miss our children very much either, although they would have loved the hotel.
Life takes twists and turns we don’t see coming, but married people can have fun, too, even 16 years after saying “I do.”
Jennifer Bardsley is author of the books “Genesis Girl” and “Damaged Goods.” Find her on Twitter @jennbardsley or on Facebook as The YA Gal.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
