At the airport we located the vicinity of where Sherry believe she parked only to find there was no elevator to go up the one flight. To refresh the reader I had my larger blue suitcase which wasn’t heavy but large! Up one flight only to realize we were actually down 2 flights of stairs giving us a good chuckle as we descended the parking garage. All my OTF workouts were coming in handy at this point. We located her cute white Toyota Rav4 and headed out of the airport toward the hotel. I found a good points rate at the Marriott Quorum next to the Galleria which was a good location especially if a little shopping was in our future 🙂 With my big blue bag in tow and her small floral bag we walked into the hotel. At the receptionist check in chatting with the young man who is getting everything in order, one of the managers asked us where we were from. My mother replies that she is from Waco and I am from Chicago. The manager then asks what brought together at their hotel? Sherry then follows this up saying “Do you think we look alike?” The manager nods yes. “We are here for a reunion… a 52 year old reunion!” The manager looked at us kinda funny so I explained that I recently discovered my birth mother on New Years Day and this was our first face to face meeting. She was so happy for us that she asked if we drank wine and what kind. In unison we both said YES! and red wine was our favorite. 🙂 “We will send to your room a bottle of red wine as a congratulations on your reunion.” As we were heading to the elevator Sherry asked if I minded her telling the front desk about us to which I replied that no I really loved the fact that she is as excited as I am on our new found relationship. We get settled, receive the bottle wine AND to our pleasant surprise six chocolate covered strawberries, and then head to the restaurant which is fortunately still open at 9:30pm. We walk up the restaurant only to be greeted by the restaurant manager who says this must be your daughter. My mother says yes with the manager remarking how much we look alike and how young Sherry looks. (This was the 2nd time someone told her this which she was just soaking in and enjoying the compliments!). Sherry then explains to me that she drove up early to Dallas, going to the mall then to the hotel meeting some of the staff who she also told our story. This made me just smile. I love that she is so happy!
At the hotel…think we look alike??!!
We find out that we like similar foods ordering hummus to share and a lite meal since it was pretty late. We spoke with my husband on the phone recanting highlights of our trip so far and headed back to the room. We both brought a little something to give each other – mine was a book titled ‘The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World’ by the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu that I also received at Christmas from my mother-in-law and she gave a bracelet from Brighton her favorite jewelry and purse store. We looked at one of four picture books she brought on her life growing up with pictures of my uncle, grandparents and other family members. Fortunately there was no quiz on who was who because at this point I am just nodding trying to soak it all in. We ended up talking until 1:30am only to continue talking for another 30 min even after we turned out the lights.