While I was in Miami about two weeks ago, I went to register for a room at a Marriott in Doral. I had made a reservation on-line about a month before that, but when I got to the desk, they told me that I had no reservation, despite showing them my printout. They thought I might have had the wrong Marriott; but when they checked there, nothing showed up in my name. I asked the desk clerk to check for space at a nearby hotel, and he said he would in a few minutes but he had to look after the others in line first.
I moved over to the side a bit and stood beside a young guy who was waiting there. "Lose your reservation, too?" I asked him. He said that he had a room but he was waiting for them to retrieve a box he had shipped ahead by UPS. I told him that I couldn't understand how they could lose my reservation because I was there the second week of every month and thought I had a standing reservation. He told me he was there every month, too, but that never happened to him at any time.
I looked at the guy and figured he was about 24 years old, tall and good looking. He was really friendly and had a great sense of humor.
"If they can't find a room, I'd be willing to share mine with you." he offered. He said it wouldn't bother him at all.
Just as he said that, the desk clerk started to look for a room at other hotels for me. He said he didn't hold out much hope for a room in this area, but he would do what he could do. He said that the only possibility would be to take something closer to Miami proper. Then, the guy next to me said, "Don't bother. Come bunk in with me."
"I'm here for two nights, though." I told him.
"Me too. So if a room opens up tomorrow you can take it if you want to." I mentioned that this would be easier than trying to find a hotel in an area I did not feel safe in at night and find a hotel with a rate I could afford.
I introduced myself to him and he told me his name was Steve Myshrall or Marshall and we shook hands and headed for the elevator. I told him that I was 65 and he said he was 28 and I commented that he looked much younger. "Hey, Bruce, I had you pegged for 53, honestly. You hold your age really well, and you're in pretty good shape for a retiree."
We got to the room, and all the only bed was a king-size bed and a roll-out cot. Naturally, I told him that I would take the cot. "Hey, this is a huge bed. You can share it. I'd have to take a bus over to your side to meet up with you." he joked.
"Whatever you want, Steve. I've slept on these pull-outs before and they are back-killers," I told him. "Besides, I think we are safe with each other."
"We'll see about that, Big Boy." he said laughingly.
"I can handle myself, You Brute," I joked back.
We put our clothes in hangers and headed out for dinner at an Italian restaurant which was about a ten-minute walk from the hotel. We decided to share a bottle of wine, although I am not a wine drinker. I thought it was a little classier than beer with chateaubriand. We chatted about each other's family, job, and sports. He was extremely amiable, and his fantastic smile made you really comfortable.
After dinner, we went into a bar across from the restaurant and ordered another drink and watched some b-ball--the sport next to cricket that I hate. We got to learn more about each other's likes and dislikes and found out that we had only two things that were in contrast to each other: his love for basketball and my love for hockey.
Around ten, we decided to call it a night and head back to our room. The room was very nice with two large windows that overlooked the city. I was standing by the window looking at the city lights and told him to come have a look. He gazed out the window and said, "There is supposed to be a lunar eclipse tonight. Maybe we can see it from here." We looked out the window and could see the full, bright moon just over the top of the building across from ours.
"I think it's supposed to be around 10:30 or so that the eclipse will start. We should be able to see it really well from here." I said. He agreed and suggested that we stand there a while and at least watch it start.
"I'm going to get rid of some of these clothes if you don't mind, Steve. I've been in them all day."
"That's a good idea, Bruce. I think I'll join you. Hope you don't mind me being in my underwear. I'm not a pyjamas type of guy, although my wife is trying to reform me." he said.
"I don't mind at all, Steve. That will be my attire of choice. After all, I don't want to upstage your wardrobe." I joked with him.
