It was very late by the time we headed south for our annual shopping weekend in Paso Robles. There is something about traveling south that is always so relaxing, even during the very busy holiday weekends. As you leave King City behind, the valley gets wider, the residences less. With every vineyard we pass, I feel myself calming.
My daughter and I love to do our Christmas shopping together. Years ago, we used to go to San Francisco, which is a holiday shopping on steroids experience. Our favorite hotel was the Hilton downtown where you could park your car on the same floor as your room — perfect for copious holiday shopping loads. It had the most stylish circular bar on the 34th floor (I think or was it 43rd) where you could see the entire city at your feet. They told us it was the last season for the public to use the bar — a terrible loss — and we never went back to that hotel again.
The city with all its chaos and traffic — though stunningly sparkly during the festive season with its ice rink on Union Square and luscious decorations everywhere — became a bit more than we could handle. We started heading south a few years ago. Even the drive south is restful, and you certainly cannot say that about driving north!
Staying downtown in a vibrant town like Paso is a delicious treat. Though it’s an easy drive from our home, there is something about staying over for the weekend that makes it super special. Tomorrow is not promised, is it, and my daughter and I like to make the memories when we can.
She was very tired after a long week of double shifts at her job, and we left in the dark despite our intentions to do otherwise. Fortunately, I had thought to buy her a sandwich to nibble on during the drive, assured that she would not have had lunch. After half a sammie, she was able to vent about her day, which she did for quite some time, and I could gradually see the tension leaving her body.
“Do you want to go to TJ Maxx tonight or tomorrow?” I ventured. Ordinarily we would go there on our first evening and do some power shopping before dinner. “Oh yeah, OK, we can do that.” She wasn’t that enthused, but I figured we could squeeze in an hour or so before she collapsed in a heap at the hotel.
I fill my, what always seems like a tiny cart, with items from my list (and the odd me-thing that was not on the list) and wait to check out with the other late-night shoppers. I’m always careful to be cheery with the checkout folks, especially at this time of year. Retail can be a bruiser during the holidays with grumpy people making for an even tougher day. I am never going to be that person.
“How’s your day going?” I chirp. “Oh, nearly quitting time,” she chipped back. “Have a wonderful evening,” I sang to her on the way out and I hope she did. That is a tough job. There, by the door, was a pale little cherub and that was my child with no shopping bags. A large question mark settled over my head. “I forgot my wallet,” she said gloomily. “I got flustered and dumped the cart.”
Oh, dear me, she was even more tired than I thought. “No worries,” I say, playing my sweet mommy card. “We can come back tomorrow!” I was still in merry mode after a very successful shop my end. “Yeah, the boyfriend is bringing my wallet down here tomorrow,” she responded, stone faced. “Dear heart, I can front you your shopping money,” I insist. Nope, she was going to make him pay for her forgetfulness. Oh dear, there’s nothing like a very tired child, except perhaps for a very tired and hungry child.
Lo and behold, in the back of the truck, she finds her wallet; but it was time for our dinner reservation, and we hadn’t checked into the hotel yet, so no time to go and rescue the shopping cart and stand in the back of the line again. We left. “Maybe you can just recreate the cart tomorrow!” I keep on cheerily, turning up the holiday music on the radio while she mumbled something indecipherable.
I do love the Paso Inn downtown. There’s something very comforting about returning to the same spot each year, where you know the beds are comfy, the food is good, and the hot tub and pool are likely just as lush as last year. It’s also beautifully decorated for the holidays and gets you right in the mood. After a delicious dinner, baby girl fell right to sleep and we got our rest, all ready for Shopping Cart Part 2 the next day.
It wasn’t that early when we left the Inn. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and were relishing just hanging out and drinking coffee with no deadlines or real places to be. Finally, by the time we made it back to the store, it was a bit of a humdinger — lots of people pushing carts around and filling the aisles. I didn’t say a word about getting there earlier — things were going much better today.
“Mum, look!” I see a look of glee on my daughter’s face. She had found her shopping cart from the night before, all resplendent with everything she had so carefully selected, plus her own shopping bag that she had brought along. It was all intact. Oh joyous! Sometimes it is the small things in life that will just make your heart sing.
And we had such a fabulous day from thereon, experiencing the small boutiques and vintage shops downtown, followed by the most impressive downtown Christmas Parade that we watched from our superb position by the fire pits at the Inn. Gosh we were really in the mood at this point. We indulged in a lovely hot tub soak at the end of the day and went on to sleep like babies again.
The following day it was time to schlepp north again via a few more shops. Our vehicle and our hearts were full. “Same thing next year?” I broached. “Of course,” she replies. “We’ll have to try again to leave earlier on the Friday. And remember our wallets.”
