Trip Wire :: Part the Fourth (and final)

Like most children, Ember gets close to her enjoyments

On my sixty-fifth birthday -- a Monday -- I woke up in Enid, Oklahoma, in the home of our son and his wife. It was twenty-three degrees outside, with mostly clear, sunny skies predicted.

And wind.

I got started early, doing the coffee and reading routine, spending some last moments with Rambo, before getting ready to go.

Andrew came down the hall and made his coffee and ate some cereal before putting on his helmet and riding his bike to work, three minutes away, at seven fifteen.

These first three shots were taken on Sunday

(He used to drive his truck until Brittany totaled it in an otherwise minor accident a few months ago ... see, she's human just like the rest of us.)

Then Ember was up, and Brittany was giving her breakfast, and before you could say Bob's your uncle, it was time to kiss and hug and say our farewells.

Brittany took a few pictures of us loving on our dollybelle Ember, and then we were gone.

It's a mere ninety minutes by car from Enid to Oklahoma City, and we made it there without incident.

Her eyes are the eighth wonder of the world

Being, as it most certainly was, a sunny but cold and windy day, the streets were all but deserted. The climate posed a problem for us too, since we had no desire to do a lot of walking in those conditions.

My main objective was to shop for souvenirs for the kids and grandkids back home, which I always do because they take care of my pets while I'm out of town.

(Erica takes Rizzo in and lets him hang with her dog Sibi and Chad's dog Jonah. Audrey goes to my house every day to bring in the mail and take care of Sweetness, and spend a little time with her.)

Having stopped and asked a local for advice as to where we might find the best souvenir shops, we were directed to Broadway Avenue (also known as Automobile Alley), where, as it turned out, there were several such shops in close proximity to one another.

I kept laughing so I wouldn't cry

I was also in the market for a coffee shop, because I wanted to take some coffee home to Chad, and I wanted to drink some myself, along with second breakfast.

On the way we drove past our hotel, the historic Skirvin Hilton. More on that later.

Broadway Avenue was, in the past, home to multiple automobile dealerships -- the old-school kind, when such establishments were located in downtown areas. 

It was obvious as we walked to the various stores that we were passing by former car-sales venues; it's been a while since I've seen such a thing but I remembered what they looked like from when I was a kid.

She's as sweet as she looks

Huge places, with a massive amount of square footage given over to plate glass fronting the sidewalk. Back in the day, you could drool over the big shiny cars while window shopping, as you might drool over new shoes or clothes or smaller, more affordable toys.

TG dropped me off in front of Tin Lizzie's and went to park. Tin Lizzie's is a well-appointed, whimsical gift shop and I found several cute things for everyone -- from tiny 3-D puzzles for the children, to cute fridge magnets.

But not finding what we were looking for in the realm of t-shirts -- a perennial favorite in the what-did-you-bring-me category -- we went on to the next store: Shop Good.

There we found all the t-shirts we had sought, and then some. It was in fact the mother lode. But, wanting to see everything available before making our final decision, we cruised down a block or so to Plenty Mercantile.

Papaw got in on it too

They had plenty, all right -- pretty much everything was there except t-shirts. We looked around for a good while and I considered a few items, but the prices were high and my interest too low to induce me to pull out my wallet.

Wanting to think on my options for a while, I suggested that we go back in the direction of Shop Good -- where I was now certain I'd buy some t-shirts -- but walk right past it to Coffee Slingers Roasters.

I'd drawn a bead on Coffee Slingers right away while out on the street, and I was anxious for that refreshing coffee break.

They had a tempting display of bagged coffee beans, so I selected one for Chad and asked a young man behind the counter to grind it for me, to the consistency needed for a French press.

I imagine the Coffee Slingers flag spends a lot of time slung around its pole

He kindly did so, and then we placed our order. I got a latte and a slice of lemon cake. TG, not a coffee drinker, chose an ice-cold Virgil's Root Beer in the bottle, and a piece of coffee cake.

When we were paying, the same young man who had ground up my coffee swiped a card and mumbled something I didn't quite catch, about my latte being free.

? ? ? ? ?

I had not even mentioned that it was my birthday.

Automobile Alley, OKC: Where the neon lights are bright

So when it was time to slide our own card and pay, I asked him to please tell me again why my latte was free?

He replied that a local worship group (I think that's what he said) purchased a fifteen-dollar gift card every Monday and donated it for the baristas to use at (I gather) their discretion, to pay for several guests' coffee orders.

I was so touched by that. I asked the young man to please tell them thank you for me, and that it was my birthday and it really meant a lot to enjoy a free latte (which I realize was not really free because someone paid for it).

He smiled and said he would convey my gratitude to the group. 

And who's to argue?

Isn't that special?

The latte was scrumptious, served in a real black-and-white stoneware cup with a saucer, and the foam perfect on top, decorated the way experienced baristas do, with a heart.

The lemon cake was moist and fresh too, and TG pronounced his snack delicious.

After consuming every crumb and drop, we went back, a few doors down, to Shop Good. There, I picked out t-shirts for Audrey, Erica, Dagny, and Ember.

The black chandeliers were breathtaking

Once that was done, we were broke and briefly considered panhandling for money to get home. Just kidding. But t-shirt prices, along with most other prices, have gone up. Just saying.

It was still cold and windy, and the streets of Oklahoma City still deserted though it was only two o'clock in the afternoon, so we decided to see if maybe the Skirvin Hilton would allow us to check in early.

If the answer was no, we'd hang out in the lobby of the century-old historic landmark which has been meticulously restored in recent years.

We were there within five minutes and parked at the entrance, where a valet met us. TG talked with him while I went inside and to the desk.

A to-scale Lego Skirvin dominated one corner of the lobby

Let's pull over and park here for a mo.

A few years ago, we were in Baltimore on my birthday; I think it was 2019. That was the time I asked TG to go straight to the Westminster Burial Ground when we drove into town, so that I could pay my respects at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe.

It was an extremely cold, windy, but gray day on that occasion too. In fact, TG remarked this time that it's always cold and windy when we take my birthday trip.

Early March. It is what it is.

Original Art Deco elevator doors

At any rate, on that day when we arrived at our hotel -- Hotel Indigo, downtown Baltimore -- I happened to mention that it was my birthday (because it was), and we were instantly upgraded from an ordinary room to a corner suite on a high floor.

(It was divine! The views! Although I must be honest, downtown Baltimore is, shall we say, shockingly down at the heel. There are reasons for that. I won't go into them now.)

So, since it was my birthday on the day we checked in at the Skirvin Hilton in Oklahoma City, I thought I'd see if the birthday announcement resulted in an upgrade.

Hi! I said. We're here! And it's my birthday! I'm sixty-five today! I proved it by handing over my Real Eye Dee.

If in a pinch you had to sleep in the hall, it wouldn't be all that bad

The ladies behind the desk were so nice and friendly, said that could not possibly be true, haaha, and things like happy birthday to you, hope it's been a nice day for you so far.

So we chit-chatted like that for a few moments, and by then TG had joined us and one of the clerks handed him our key cards. Room Twelve-Oh-Three.

We made our way across the lobby to a bank of two polished brass, ornately carved antique elevators with a towering brass mail depository between them, hopped aboard one (mirrored on the inside), and mashed the button for the twelfth floor.

Smooth. And fast. Seconds later, the doors opened onto a wide, long, luxuriously appointed hallway. Signs told us to turn right, and then make another turn, to the left.

What's behind door number three

That took us to a short hallway. I read the numbers beside the doors: Twelve-Oh-One on the left and Twelve-Oh-Two on our right. There was no Twelve-Oh-Three. What there was -- at the end of the short hall -- was a room branded Presidential Suite. There was no number beside the door.

We were confused. I looked again at the little folder that contained our key cards. I looked at the room numbers. We were in the right place.

Try it, said TG.

I went to the door of the Presidential Suite and waved one of the cards. The light did not turn green; it turned red. I scuttled away, intimidated. To quote Will Turner: Someone will have heard that! 

Behold the foyay!

TG picked up a house phone in the long hallway and called the desk. After a brief conversation, he told me that indeed we'd been booked into the Presidential Suite.

Whaaaaat?

This time I let TG wave the key card. He was better at it than me. The light turned green and we went in.

Fifteen hundred square feet of luxury greeted our eyes. Windows everywhere looking out onto downtown Oklahoma City. Two bathrooms. A dining area. A luxurious living area and equally luxurious bedroom.

The coffee corner. All of the draperies were floor-length and stunning.

(Much, much more than we needed; their ordinary rooms are super nice and would have been plenty.)

I was pretty much overwhelmed and kept running to the windows to look out. It was opulence! I got a real kick out of the whole thing.

We settled in and then I thought it would be polite to go downstairs and thank the ladies at the desk. I told them that being upgraded in such a way was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for me.

Because it was. You could tell that the clerk was happy that she'd made me so happy.

A hallway led to the bedroom

We took a few pictures in the lobby, then went back up and hung out in our suite for a while, because we were tired and I needed to do some research to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my birthday.

We lolled on the block-long sectional sofa and fired up the huge flat-screen and turned on a movie and rested and regrouped.

After searching out several options and dismissing all of them for one reason or another, I decided that I wanted to go to Penn Square Mall and then to dinner at Whiskey Cake, which had been recommended by Andrew.

Now if you know the pirate at all, you know she is not fond of malls. In fact, as a rule I assiduously avoid malls. There's a story behind it which I won't tell but suffice it to say that mall culture in general gives me the heebie-jeebies.

The king-size bed was exceptionally comfortable

But occasionally when in a new city for my birthday, we go to a mall because it's cold outside and I like to shop. 

Penn Square Mall is one of the nicer malls I've seen on my travels, and I actually enjoyed being there, up to a point. We strolled into See's Candies and had a nice time chatting with the lady minding the store.

We were given a sample and yes, we bought candy. It was some of the freshest and most delicious candy I've ever tasted.

(See's in Los Angeles is where Lucille Ball practiced for the episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy and Ethel have trouble keeping up on the bonbon assembly line.)

Looking out at the Skirvin from the Skirvin ... a masterpiece of early twentieth century architecture

After our candy purchase, we strolled into Francesca's, where I bought two pairs of earrings. 

Then we just walked and people-watched and even sat and rested for a while -- to be honest, I was waiting to get hungry enough to go to dinner. The candy sample at See's had taken the edge off my appetite.

But eventually we drove across the parking lot to Whiskey Cake, where we had neither whiskey nor cake. I can't remember what TG ordered but I had chicken and waffles, and it was pretty amazing.

By then it was dark and I wanted to chill out, so we returned to the Presidential Suite at the Skirvin Hilton. I took some nighttime shots out of several of the windows and we relaxed for a few hours.

Devon Energy lit in white ... First National Center lit in purple

I slept well because the bed was fabulous. Unbelievably comfortable. I didn't want to get up the next day but I did, because we had to drive all the way to Memphis.

After breakfast in the Skirvin's stunning Park Avenue Grill, where I had the best overnight oats ever, served with hot coffee from its own little carafe left on the table (I love that), we packed up the car and took off.

Before getting on the open road to Memphis, we made a detour to Del City, Oklahoma, about ten minutes away.

That's because I wanted to pay my respects at the graves of Tony and Dana Gray. Like my own dad, who was also a pilot who died young in a plane crash, Dana was born in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

The snazzy Park Avenue Grill ... we were not the only ones there

I did not know the Grays, but I was made very sad in the summer of 2016 when I read the news of their deaths in a crash that also claimed the life of Tony's brother Jerry. Their story stuck with me, and although they died in Houston, Texas, I remembered that the Grays had lived and been laid to rest near Oklahoma City.

Prior to our trip I had made note of the cemetery location and, when I saw it was mere minutes from OKC, we decided to go.

We found the gravesite and stayed for ten minutes or so, thinking about the Grays' tragic story. You're familiar with my interest in aviation disasters, so this fits right in.

TG took my picture next to the Grays' oversized black granite headstone, situated across from a matching bench with a picture of Tony and Dana on their wedding day in 1990.

They made these oats overnight, just for me

I'm so glad I had an opportunity to do that.

On the way to the cemetery in Del City, I had homed in on a non-chain donut shop across the street from a Dunkin' Donuts. My radar is always tuned to local, one-of-a-kind donut shops.

So after leaving the cemetery I said, I want a donut. Second breakfast! Always a good idea. TG agreed that it was a solid plan.

Best Donuts is a simple storefront. Their selection of donuts is not huge but is nevertheless more than adequate.

Although it hurt my heart, I was privileged to pay my respects to Tony and Dana

I selected a maple-glazed long john and on the spot, the courteous clerk filled it with Bavarian cream.

TG made his selections and I picked out a few more for later in the day, and we were on our way.

That was the freshest donut I have ever tasted. I will never forget it. (Donuts, always life-affirming, are even more so after a visit to the cemetery to pay your respects to the memory of folks who have passed on while still in their prime.)

I like it. Simple. Easy to remember.

We made it to Memphis by nightfall and enjoyed another good night's sleep. I slept so well on that trip; it was nearly miraculous. Not once was I hot or uncomfortable or restless.

(Epic winds notwithstanding, my hair behaved the whole time too. Cause for celebration if ever there was one.)

The next day -- Wednesday -- we aimed for our tiny plot of land in South Carolina, arriving while it was still faintly light outside. It's true what they say: there's no place like home.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Wednesday

Comments

[Bijoux]

Well, what is your secret? Because I always mention when it’s a birthday or anniversary and I have never received a single thing! It’s especially disappointing when the restaurant asks if it’s a special occasion when you make the reservation, but then don’t do anything. Why ask?? Can you tell it perturbs me? Lol!

Lots of good stuff here and I enjoyed the photos very much. The hotel elevator doors look just like the ones at the hotel I stayed in NYC; The Roosevelt. I love Art Deco anything. BTW, my favorite donut is a whipped cream filled long john, though we call them cremesticks here.

[Lori]

Sounds like the trip and your Birthday were fabulous!! Your granddaughter is beautiful.
That was so awesome of them to upgrade you to the Presidential Suite. It looks gorgeous. I like local non chain places as well. I'm sure the donuts were out of this world good.
I despise the wind and it is VERY windy here today. I may or may not have cursed a bit as I got out of the car this morning.
It was nice to read all about your trip. Have a great week!!

[Ginny Hartzler]

Wow, what a wonderfully perfect birthday you had!! I think I would have done most of the same things that you did, with the mall and donuts. I love both of the beautiful chandeliers. And of course the stunning Ember. She is for sure an ember burning brightly. I was in Baltimore decades ago, and it was run-down even THEN!

[Jennifer]

@Bijoux ... Girl I do not know! I just smile real big and say it, and two times now it has worked like a charm! I admit that THIS time I was really angling for an upgrade but I am not at all the type to come right out and ask for it. I was really shocked when they did it in Baltimore, when I was not expecting it AT ALL. But I bet if you stick with it, and check into a really nice place on your birthday and hype it up, you'll get your upgrade! You gotta believe. And YES I would be perturbed too if they asked whether it were a special occasion, and then ignored said special occasion! What's the point in that? As for long johns ... an eclair by any other name, haaahaa! xoxo

@Lori ... I understand your hatred for ultra-windy days! I think they drive just about everyone crazy. Yes the donuts were memorable and I wish I could have one right now! You have a great week too. xoxo

@Ginny ... Haaahaha yes, Baltimore ... I was surprised by its condition but TG said, dear, it's a Democrat-run city. They're mostly like this. He never said anything when I picked out B'more as my birthday trip destination! But he knew I wanted to see the grave of EAP, and it was SO worth it. Even the Uber drivers we used, though, advised us not to walk anywhere while we were there. Yikes! xoxo

[Carla TePaske]

Hi,
Happy Birthday and such fun surprises for your special day. What FUN!!!

I stop for donuts too. :-) We have found many wonderful mom and pop bakeries during our travels.

You are right about Ember's eyes.

[Jennifer]

@Carla ... local bakeries of long standing are the absolute best! We seek them out and have never regretted it. When we were in Indianapolis in 2019, we visited Long's Bakery -- a local institution. The line was out the door and around the side. We stood in it and we were not sorry. Haaaha xoxo

[Mari]

That was such a special time with Andrew, Brittany and Ember. That Ember is just adorable, and every time I see her, I am amazed by the way her name just fits her!
That hotel is old world class, simply elegant. I love that you got upgraded. It couldn't have happened to a better couple! I can just see you wandering around that huge room and taking it all in - and taking pictures! (exactly what I would do) :)
And I better start taking trips on my birthday!
Good for you for keeping your hair in line, something I have not yet accomplished.

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... haaahaa I was shocked at how well my hair behaved in all that wind. I would go to the mirror expecting to see a disaster and it had just fallen back into place! I couldn't believe it. I told my hairdresser it was due to his expertise with the scissors, hahaha! And yes I did wander around that huge space, looking out every window and taking it all in, and taking pictures like I'd be blind the next day. It was pretty special. YES do take a trip ON your birthday and see what happens when you check in! Good luck, hahaha! xoxo

[Diana]

What a fabulous upgrade! Woo-hoo! And such a beautiul hotel with interesting history! That chandelier is fantastic. I'm into Legos (even after my boys grew up lol) and would love to have enough to build something like that to scale, would be pretty neat! I enjoyed looking at all the websites of OKC (yeah, I spent too much time looking, lol, bedtime). Blessings to you, Jenny!

[Diana]

P. S. I forgot to say ... that was CUTENESS OVERLOAD there at the beginning of your post!! She's just way too sweet!

[betty]

I got to first say I admire you for being out in the cold wearing flip flops! You go girl! I would have been bundled up from head to toe and then some more!

Ember is so beautiful! You are right, her eyes are just gorgeous!

So neat that you got upgraded to the Presidential Suite! What a fabulous birthday bonus I do believe!

I can't believe it was so hard to find some place to buy tee-shirts! It seems like every other shop here in tourist sections carry them and a big selection of them too! Glad you eventually found them!

That was sad about the Grays. But so touching to step into eternity together.

Thanks for sharing your travels with us! I enjoyed the posts and reading of your and TG's adventures and getting to spend time with your family!

betty

[Mari-Nanci]

Ember is perfection, and getting more so, every day......

Love how how Mama keeps bows in her hair. Be still my heart... Little girls and bows.

When I took care of first Granddaughter, I told her that my putting bows in her hair, was my *pay* for 'Free Nana Day Care.' -giggles-

Look at you!!!! Rockin' leather!!!!

Love how you get super accommodations because of your Birthday!

Gentle hugs,
Mari-Nanci
🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

[Jeanette]

Wow! What a great trip and a fabulous birthday you had! It was nice of them to upgrade you to the Presidential Suite too! Wonderful time with your family and hair that behaves all week? What more can you ask from a vacation!!

[Jennifer]

@Diana ... the Lego hotel was just amazing to me. Up close I could tell that folks have -- ahem -- made off with tiny pieces of it, especially at the top. But it is such a true representation of that building, it's astonishing. Even the front entrance, all black, looks exactly like that. We had a ball and I wish we could have stayed longer. I'm glad you enjoyed all the links, haaaha! I would have clicked on every one of them too. I like to learn about places that are unfamiliar to me. YES Ember dollybelle is quite the little beauty and such a funny, sweet little person too! I miss her *sniff* xoxo

@betty ... girl I was freezing in that photo BUT I would be riding in the car all day and we would soon be in much warmer temps, so I dressed for that. I do have a light blanket I cover up with in the car on road trips! Now, as for t-shirts, I think if I had been looking for the more generic ones (I like the ones that are specific to the city or state), I could have looked a little longer and perhaps found that, but my girls love wearing graphic tees and the ones I bought (though a tad more expensive) are SO soft and such pretty muted colors and cute understated designs. Audrey's just says OKLA real big, with a tiny state shape beneath it. She loves it and I know they'll wear and use them forever. Dagny's I got to be funny because it says Bring Me All the Kitties with a picture of a cat, because she loves cats but is horribly allergic to them, haaaha! Anyway they had so many at Shop Good that it took me quite a while to make my selections. Yes the Grays' ending is so sad to me, but I have a feeling that if they had to go, they would have preferred to go together rather than either one live without the other. Life is short but eternity is forever. xoxo

@Mari-Nanci ... isn't she just the living end? I can't get enough of taking her picture with that creamy skin and those blue eyes and that strawberry-blond hair! And yes Brittany always has her dressed unbelievably cute and so sassy and witty, and the big bows are never omitted! I had to laugh when you said you'd take your pay in putting bows in the child's hair ... I was changing my little niece's diaper many many years ago when she was a newborn. I was WILD with baby powder when I diapered my children and my sister didn't do that so much. I was changing Joanna and about to apply the powder when my sister walked in and startled me and I squeezed the Johnson's Baby Powder can and POOF powder went everywhere! We still laugh at that, even though Joanna is now a mother. I have no idea whether she powders her baby, haahaha. Now that jacket is actually pleather, haaha but it does the trick. SO warm and keeps the cold wind out! xoxo

@Jeanette ... yes my hair behaving was like an additional birthday present! It did the same thing on our eight-day trip to New England in 2019! Looked great every single day! And sometimes at home, it acts up! My hair truly lives a life of its own. Sometimes I have to remind it who's boss, haaha! xoxo

[Terra]

Ember is such a pretty darling, and I enjoyed reading this post. You stayed in a gorgeous hotel and how sad the story of the Gray couple who died too young. Enjoy your week.

[Jennifer]

@Terra ... You summed it up perfectly, and it's so good to see you! xoxo

[Gayla]

My goodness! Happy birthday! Your upgrade was fabulous. And you really deserved it! What a lovely adventure for your 65th!

[Jennifer]

@Gayla ... the whole thing was just so precious and wonderful and I am so grateful for these experiences and these memories! Upgrades are always most welcome, haaaha! xoxo

[Barb]

Once Bob and I were upgraded (no special reason) to the "Presidential Suite" in Moab, UT. I think it was a joke - nothing presidential about it. Your suite, on the other hand looked regal. I'm glad you could celebrate your birthday in style and enjoy the perks the day brought. You are a beautiful and young-looking 65! Ember is adorable!

[Jennifer]

@Barb ... thank you my dear friend! What a nice compliment. I had a ball with that presidential suite. In retrospect, it wasn't the slightest bit necessary; we would have been more than fine in a regular room. But wasn't that nice of the lady at the desk? I loved the view. Haaaha your presidential suite in Moab was not presidential? What kind of deal is that? Haaaaha xoxo