Chapter 1
I can’t believe I’m doing this; I’m actually going on a spontaneous trip for the first time in my life.
My mother spent practically a week prompting me to reply to the invitation for the event, and after much discussion, eventually agreed to RSVP.
As I drive down the road heading to the fancy hotel, I replay Mom's and my conversation.
“Darling, you should go,” she gushed as her eyes skimmed over the brochure she had clenched between her fingertips. “You have worked so hard the past several years; you deserve to have some fun.”
“I don’t know, Mom,” I sighed and bit my lower lip as nervousness overtook me. “I’d have to get on a plane and then drive up a mountain to get there.”
Airplane ride and then driving up a mountain?
That was enough to make me say no, nope, and maybe even a hell no.
I have never been on a an airplane before, and much to my mom's want of always wanting to go see the Colorado mountains, we never went.
“I don’t even remember entering a contest for this,” I mumbled as my eyes scanned over the pictures. The resort does look very beautiful.
“Maybe it was just a random pick? Random pick of address? You got lucky, baby girl,” my mom squeaked before adding, “Take the win, go, and have fun.”
Now, I felt unusually anxious about it.
Having freshly achieved my bachelor's degree, my mom proposed I take some time to sit back and take it easy before plunging into the career research process.
After devoting four years to my college education, she explained that I earned this “fun time, and I thoroughly support her opinion on the matter.
There is no question that I was deserving of it.
I managed to finish my college education with the help of a generous scholarship, which I obtained due to my extraordinary skills in soccer.
Over the last four years, I committed myself to extensive practice sessions, engaged in various games, and traveled broadly for those games, all while successfully managing my immaculate 4.0 GPA.
I tried talking my mom into accompanying me on this rare trip.
As someone who has been a single parent for all of my life, I appreciate the ruthless devotion she showed by working exhaustively to provide me with the quality of life that I was fortunate enough to have.
Sadly, both she and I found ourselves unable to cover the cost of her share of the trip.
The brochure distinctly declared that the admission was valid for only one individual, and it clearly mentioned that bringing a guest was not permitted.
I found myself completely indifferent to obeying the rules; my plan was to slyly escort my mom into a different room, convinced that nobody would catch on.
After I laid my eyes on the resort where I would be staying, I envisioned creating a peaceful and pleasant getaway for both of us.
Truthfully, I don't recall taking part in any giveaway for this; maybe my mom was the one who entered and has since forgotten about it.
Despite my various attempts to get a different response from her, she always replied the same way and did not take part in any contests either.
In the beginning, I thought about rejecting the opportunity since it struck me as a bit too bizarre for my liking.
My mom snickered at my worries and announced that I had been watching an excessive amount of horror films.
She encouraged me to take charge of the situation and embrace the positive experiences that were unfolding around me.
“You are going, and the conversation is done, Cathy Jean Ceaders,” she huffed and walked into the kitchen, pouring us both a cup of hot chocolate, the kind that’s made with Tootsie Rolls.
This is my absolute favorite.
This is truly scrumptious and enjoyable.
At this moment, I find myself cruising along the highway in a rented vehicle, making my way up a daunting mountain road as I journey towards the Highrise resort located in Colorado.
I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for the upcoming trip to the relaxing hot springs.
While looking at numerous images and clips online, I can't help but feel that they fall short in conveying the awe-inspiring nature of that incredible place.
According to the information provided in the pamphlet, one of the most exciting aspects of this journey was that it came at no cost whatsoever.
Food.
Going on excursions or voyages that take you beyond your home environment, whether for relaxation, business, or personal growth.
Hotel.
Didn’t mention the food?
By some stroke of luck, I found myself the fortunate recipient of a fully paid vacation that covers all expenses.
Although I remain unclear about how I ended up winning this unbelievable opportunity, I refuse to let any uncertainty dampen my enthusiasm for the trip ahead. I plan to take pleasure in this experience.
After receiving some papers in the mail, I called the phone number provided on one of them.
However, despite trying to get through seven times, I found that the line was constantly busy, and I couldn't connect.
Seriously, how active was this place?
It looked as though it was always in high demand and completely booked.
With the lines perpetually filled with eager travelers, it seems clear that a lot of people take delight in spending their holidays at this location.
I just wanted to find out what types of activities we had scheduled for the weekend, which would allow me to make informed decisions about what to include in my packing for the trip.
Since I couldn't reach anyone on the other end of the line, I decided to prepare by packing a variety of outfits suitable for almost any situation.
Better to be safe than to be sorry.
I am now set for whatever plans they have arranged for us this weekend.
My suitcase, however, seems to be packed to the brim and looks like it could explode at any moment, much like a Christmas turkey that has been stuffed beyond its limits.
My phone starts to ring. I press the green button. “Hey, Mom, miss me already?” I giggled.
“Oh, you know I do, sweetie, but I was just calling to see where you were and how the flight was.”
“The flight was scary, I won’t lie , Mom. We had a rough takeoff because of turbulence, but other than that, the rest of the flight was pretty smooth.”
“Good, that’s good. I wish they had hired a driver for you. It makes me nervous that you're driving yourself,” she whispered, and I could hear the worry in her voice. “I know, I know I wanted you to go, but a mother worries.”
“Everything else was paid for. I don’t know why they didn’t send a bus for us all,” I agreed. “Maybe they thought we wouldn’t like to travel with strangers?”
“Hmm, perhaps so, sweetie. I’ll let you go, put on some music, and enjoy the ride, baby. Who knows, you may find a handsome man while you are there.” She didn’t even wait for my reply; she quickly hung up.
My mother.
She does worry too much.
She thinks I need to settle down with a nice gentleman now that I’m not focused on my education.
