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The deposition fairies were with me
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 10:44PM 
Don't you love pleasant surprises?
Me too.
So imagine the flush of excitement that suffused me when, on Tuesday night, I Google-Mapped the route for my Wednesday morning deposition destination.
See, what happens is, the scheduler at our agency either hands me the paperwork for my next-day job (if I happen to be standing in front of her), or she faxes or emails it.
We are all about technology.
On Tuesday I dropped by the office and she handed over a deposition notice containing the more salient details of my assignment. I barely glanced at it, however, because she'd already told me all I really had to know: be in Summerville for an eleven o'clock start.
Can do. Summerville -- a/k/a Flowertown in the Pines -- is basically Charleston only you don't have to go quite that far. It's ninety minutes from my house and with an eleven o'clock start that meant I wouldn't need to set out until nine.
As long as I don't have to get up before six o'clock, I'm jolly. Earlier than that is just stupid.
Plus which, as is often the case, I knew the lawyer I was to be working with and he is a very kind gentleman.
All good. We are enthusiastic.
But upon Google-Mapping the location -- 125 Parsons Road 29483 -- instead of coming up and marking the spot of a law firm -- the kinds of places where ninety-nine percent of the depos I report are held -- the little red balloon marked a place identified as Woodlands Inn.
Huh? I looked at my paperwork again. Sure enough: the depo was scheduled to happen at Woodlands Inn, the only five-star and five-diamond resort in South Carolina!
That sounded very promising indeed. I like discovering new (to me) and elegant places to eat and stay! Because then I can bribe TG to take me there for a romantic getaway.
It has worked in the past and I have no doubt it'll work again.
I have, after all, perfected my technique, which involves wheedling.
Yes, it does. I am a shameless wheedler.
Don't judge.
But if all deposition venues were like this one, everyone would want to be a court reporter. It's just more fun to work in a fully restored neo-Georgian revival plantation estate circa 1906, surrounded by antiques and oil paintings and chandeliers setting off fabulously decorated rooms.
Plus marvelous coffee service, with real china cups and saucers and real half & half.
There was gaslight flickering. Mozart, Vivaldi, and Bach wafted softly from invisible speakers. Even during the depo.
Not only that. In the early afternoon, deposition concluded, when I had packed my equipment case and was ready to leave and stepped outside onto the porch, I paused to take a few pictures.
For you!
A gentleman who works for the hotel followed me out. The man was practically on my heels ... but in a good way.
He wanted to know if there was anything he could do to help me.
I was nearly rendered speechless because I'm not used to that. I schlepp my stuff up and down and all around, various distances, on smooth and rough terrain, in all kinds of weather.
Speaking of which, it was cool outside and had begun spitting rain.
Before I could answer properly, the man suggested, "May I get your car?"
Oh yes, I said, handing over my keys and pointing to my baby, parked about a tenth of a mile away in a small lot.
He did. And when he pulled up in front of the inn, without my having to say a word he popped the trunk, dashed up the stairs, retrieved my case, and stowed it away.
Want to know what he did next? Huh, do ya?
He returned to the porch, grabbed an umbrella from a brass stand, and held it over my head as he walked beside me all the way back to my car.
Then he opened the door, saw me safely inside, and closed the door before I could touch it.
I pushed the button to lower my window.
"I'll be back, and not as a court reporter," I promised, dewy-eyed.
He remembered my last name, for which he'd politely asked when we were still up on the porch.
"We look forward to it, Ms. Weber," he said. He sounded so sincere! And I wasn't even a paying customer.
Yet.
I called TG while still on the half-mile road out of the woods back to the main road.
And happily I didn't have to wheedle much. TG and I like the same things.
When I get to stay at Woodlands Inn as a guest, you may expect a full report from your fearless girl reporter.
Reader Comments (10)
What a gorgeous place and better yet that it has such nice people!
PS - I've been in Summerville - it's a great place.
PPS - What about that election? :)
What a place to *have* to do your work!
Heavenly!!!
Thank you for this tour and I look forward to hearing about your own stay there.
Did I say heavenly? :-))))))))))))))))))
YOU LUCKY DUCK!!!
I'm Going Back To School!!!Hahaaaa....Think they'll send ME there???
LOVE the photos....Beautiful place Girl!
hughugs
Oh my word! That place is absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!! Yes, yes, where do I sign up to be a court reporter?! TG is a smart man to quickly agree to a stay at this magnificent inn! Love the pics and dreaming of a vacation there RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!
Hey, they give AAA discounts too!
Oh how NICE!!!!
@Mari ... Did you make it to Summerville when you were here? HOORAY! I love Summerville. And yes, it was the people that really "made" the place. They were so special. The election? *sigh of relief* ... it was nice to be on the winning side again! Now onward & forward to 2012!
@AA ... You said heavenly TWICE and you could've gone for a third time and still not been out of bounds! It was DIVINE!
@Donna ... It's not usually so cushy at a depo! In fact, most places aren't ... which is why I enjoyed this experience enough to blog about it! I have champagne tastes on a beer budget, woe is me! LOLOL but we'll scrimp and save to visit there for pleasure and not business. It'll be worth it.
@Donna M. ... An AAA discount will come in very handy, both with the price of lodging and then dining. TG and I are thinking about going sometime for the Sunday Brunch! We love Sunday brunches. Please come and bring Mr. Jim! You'll love it!
@Crystal ... Girl you said it! Get the Timster to bring you up here for some moonlight & magnolias and the rest of the royal treatment! I'll meet you there (for lunch ... just lunch!) and we'll have a great time.
I told Mr. Jim about it and he reported back to me that he's had that place on his bookmarked "places to go" list! hahaha!!!!!! Maybe we can run over there when you guys decide to go! It won't take much arm twisting to get him traveling!
@Donna M. ... *squeeeeeee!* That would be SO MUCH FUN! We must do it!
wowza..see me turnin a shade of green?..ha
u must must must come over to WHT no matter how busy your life gets..y'hear!..(((HUGGSSS))):)