It was quite an adventure for my love and I last weekend. His job as a ship agent took him to Connecticut so we decided to make a weekend getaway out of it as well. We searched for hotels in the area and found The Hyatt Place in Milford, Connecticut. Some think that a hotel is simply a hotel, a place to lay your head at night and a home base for you during the day, but this hotel was different. We felt like we were home.

We got to the hotel around 4 in the afternoon, dropped our bags in the room and headed out for dinner. Once we finished our meal it was back to the hotel for me, and off to work for Rob. Now you might think I would be bored being alone but I wasn’t. Sure, I watched television and ordered Starbucks, but my experience at this hotel went far beyond their amenities: I met three people who worked there which became our “friends” by the time we checked out 24 hours later on Sunday.

Rob got back from work after midnight and was fairly wound up from five hours of work, so we decided to go down to the lobby and have a cocktail at the bar there. Our bartender was John, a young man who shared his life with us. He chatted with us about the cost of college, dreams of his future, and all about being called a “millennial.” Let me tell you this: he became my favorite “millennial” and not one to fit the general definition of one. He was bright, energetic, sweet, and kind. We listened to him and he listened to Rob talk about his job as a ship agent and to me about my life as a writer. He was working the night shift until 7 am and told Rob that he’d had coffee ready for him in the morning when he left for work, and he did. John was interested in my life as a writer and needless to say, I had a copy of my last book, “Waking Up,” with me so I ran up to the room, signed a copy and gave it to him. He was thankful and said he’d be reading it throughout the long night ahead of him.

We headed to our room, which by the way, was absolutely beautiful and more comfortable than most hotels we’ve stayed at in the past. I’d like to say that the alarm went off for us early in the next morning, but instead Rob got a phone call at 5 am. Needless to say, we got up and I decided to stay up until he got back from work. We headed down to the lobby and true to his word, John had the coffee ready! And then he did something that warmed my heart: he came out from behind the desk, told me he started reading my book, and said that he just needed to hug me! Coffee and a hug is the best way to start your day!

Rob left and when I went back to the lobby I met Lindsay, a young mom with three year old twins and a teenager. It took but minutes before we struck up a personal conversation. John was getting ready to go home after his shift and I told him I wanted to share “one more thing” with him. Lindsay was with him so I told the both of them about my 27 year old nephew, Sean Wotherspoon, and how he had a dream and made it come true. I showed them pictures of the Nike Air Max shoe he designed and told them of the stores he owns, the reality show he has once a month, and how everything he’s dreamed of he’s made come true. I hoped that by sharing my nephew’s story of dreams coming true would show them that “anything and everything” is possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re “a millennial” or a “young mom;” we all need to know that there’s hope in our dreams.

John hugged me good-bye and I decided to run back upstairs and sign a book for Lindsay.

As the morning progressed, I’d run into Lindsay here and there. We struck up conversations of breast cancer, parenting, our families, working and of our lives. I remember walking back into the lobby only to see her walking out of the elevator with her nose pressed in my book reading it. It’s funny, as a writer, I sign books but I never see anyone reading them, let alone reading them while they’re walking off an elevator! That was such a great moment for me.

She looked up and told me she loved what she had read so far. Within the hour, just as she was leaving, we’d end up talking endlessly together outside. She told me that my book and me sharing my positive attitude  was my life’s purpose…and that was a “be still my heart” moment for me. I told her I saw that same thing in her. Lindsay is an amazing woman, and as we hugged good-bye I felt like I was saying good-bye to family. She told me to make sure that Rob and I come back to the hotel for a visit!

The third person I met was Andrew. He was a bit more reserved at first, but once we began talking we realized we had something in common: we both loved New Hope, Pennsylvania and both of us spent a lot of time there. Before long I gave Andrew a copy of the book and soon thereafter, felt even more at home. We needed a “late check-out” and Andrew was more than happy to see that it happened. He told us we could stay as long as we needed and if there was anything else he could do, he’d make it happen.

The time had finally come to leave this amazing hotel. I had already said my good-byes to Lindsay and John, and now it was time to say good-bye to Andrew. He told me that we were one of his favorite couples to come to the hotel and to absolutely come back to see him, except he joked that we should come back when Rob isn’t working! He said he’d be sure our stay would be just as good as this one.

We packed the car and left. Both Rob and I felt the same way about this hotel: we found our home away from home. We felt a sadness leaving our new friends behind but knew that we’d be going back soon.

So you see, there are amazing adventures and experiences to be found all around us, and I found mine at the Hyatt Place in Milford, Connecticut last weekend. You just have to keep your eyes and your mind open to the endless possibilities. You don’t have to look for it; it will find you.

And an adventure found me 24 hours and 3 people later…and for that, I’m grateful.

Thank you to John, Lindsay and Andrew of The Hyatt Place in Milford…you not only made our stay at the hotel an amazing experience, but you touched this writer’s heart by sharing a small piece of your life with me. We met as strangers and left as friends.

And that is priceless.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~