LIVING GRAND

As you know, we'll be moving to Tena, Ecuador in just a few days. We'll probably not own a washer and dryer right away, nor indulge in common comforts such as hot water on demand, clean drinking water from the tap, air-conditioning, bathtubs, international dining options, privacy/personal space, flat-screen TVs, or cuddling my toes into soft wall-to-wall carpeting. In a few days, all of that will be a distant memory. To replace such luxuries will be screen-only windows, washing and drying laundry by hand, "soaking" in the river instead of a bathtub, overcrowded public transportation, flickering electricity, eating chicken and rice everyday of my life, and constantly mopping the dust off our cold wall-to-wall ceramic tile floors. Now mind you, this is the life we CHOOSE to enter into, but for now I'll savor every sip of real cafe au'lait and other things we used to take for granted. Tonight we're going out to dinner one last time and I just might order brats and wurst or whatever sounds non-Latin.

Last weekend we drove to a suburb in Atlanta to get our 12-IX Visas stamped. We got to stay at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. Glass, gold, marble, and down enveloped us like chocolate on a Smore and we were lovin' it. Well, and add to the glee that we only paid $65 for the night on Priceline. We walked with our heads high out of the self-park garage after parking our Saturn a block away while Porsche convertibles and Lambs whizzed past us in a state of haughty frustration by the valet's. While women dressed in furs (it was 75 degrees) and men with top-hats made dinner reservations with the concierge, we asked the doorman if there was anything good to eat in walking distance along the lines of an Applebees. He pointed the way to a great Cantina with $3 tacos and $2 beer specials. At least it wasn't chicken and rice.

After dinner, we spent the night gawking at our room with a view on the 19th floor and soaking our feet in the over sized tub. The highlight was the ($10,000?) feather bed and linens that felt like sleeping on a baby angel's wing. We watched my favorite show "The Amazing Race" one more time and I cheered for the twins who got booted off at the end. I got sad and quiet for a moment as I reflected on how K and I were going to audition for that show in Charlotte last season until we found out they were only inviting repeat players. Totally unjust.

The next morning we indulged in a real breakfast and hot coffee at The Flying Biscuit, also in walking distance. Lunch was again at the Cantina because you just can't beat $3 fish tacos and ice-cold Dos Equis Amber. We ended the trip by doing a little shopping. Not at the high-end mall in Buckhead next to Whole Foods, but the Marshalls next to another self-park garage.

In total, we were in Buckhead for less than 24 hours but sometimes little getaways like that are just as nice as week-long excursions. We came back that night to 7 suitcases, 3 backpacks, 2 dogs, 1 grumpy kid and 500 tons of items that need to be packed and ready to go by Tuesday to Ecuador. In about three days, we'll be flying over the Grand Hyatt Buckhead and...well, I'm not sure what'll be going through our heads at that moment, but I hope to feel peace with all the "things" we're leaving behind.