Writing

8-30-20

“Can we bring our dog inside?”

“Sorry, no,” I said, slightly muffled through my mask. “One of you will have to stay outside with her.” I glanced at the chihuahua wearing a pink tutu and then at the mother and son owners.

“Great!” the mother said and began gathering up her dog in her arms.

I wondered if they were able to tie the dog to the leg of the table next to me. I was brought back to reality as the mother held out the dog to me.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “She’s friendly.”

For the last three weeks, a new duty was added to the my job at the front desk. Not only would we be checking people in, but we also have to spend several days a week working as door greeters. The idea for the job is simple. Someone stands outside the door and counts people in and out with a tally counter. A second employee stands nearby and answers questions, so the counter doesn’t get distracted.

The above story was an incident from a few weeks ago, when we first started as door greeters. I was working a morning shift, when a mother and son came up with their dog and thought I was offering to hold her on my lap, while they went inside. Needless to say, I was startled. Luckily, they realized that I was not, in fact, willing to dog sit for them. Instead, one went in while the other stayed with the dog, much to my relief.

“You need to wear a mask inside the building,” our location manager said to two guests.

“We have a medical condition and we’re hungry.”

This was another day at the front door. I was answering questions off to the side, when I became aware of our location manager stopping a couple from walking in the exit door to avoid the line. The two wanted food and they cited a medical condition for not wearing them. This is not allowed for this year. If you want to go into the building, you have to wear a mask. But, what were these poor people going to do? They were refusing point blank to wear masks. The location manager headed inside, telling me to keep count of people going in and out, and went to find a Food and Beverage manager, who took their orders and payment outside. At least they got their food, even if they couldn’t step into the building themselves.

It is interesting watching human behavior as I monitor the doors. We can only let 120 people in at a time, not counting on duty employees. Most people will wait patiently in line, until I tell them they can go in. Then, there are people that try and walk in without waiting and sneak into other doors. They don’t want to wait like everyone else and try to make up some excuse over why we should like them in before everyone else. As far as I know, no employee has fallen for that yet.

I know this is a weird year and that everyone just wants the world to return to normal. I’m certainly ready for normal. Until then, I’ll just be a front desk agent and part time door greeter. Just, please remember, stay safe and well out there and no pets in the hotel.

Every author wants to be noticed. I am no exception. Like most people, I research authors, check out their books, and see what they’re up to. At the end of June, I was goggling an author named Christopher Paolini. You might have heard of him. He’s the author of the Eragon series. It’s a great series. It’s about a farm boy named Eragon and his bonded dragon partner Saphira going out to defeat an evil king who usurped the throne. During that time, I was talking to my mom on the phone and saying, “Wouldn’t it be funny if I wrote to him? I mean, I’m working in Yellowstone and he lives in Montana. A letter wouldn’t have to travel that far.” My mom’s response was, “Well? Why don’t you?”

That had me thinking. I had intended my comment as a joke, but my mom took me seriously. Maybe I should contact him. So, that’s what I did. I spent the next two days crafting a letter to Christopher Paolini. Once I was satisfied, I signed it and mailed it off, wondering if I would ever hear back. I did.

Last week, I was walking by the post office and decided to check, not really expecting anything. I actually found a response from Paolini! In my letter, I gave him a plot summary of Silver Rose and asked for writing and marketing advice. Paolini responded with the latter. He told me to get involved in a writing group so they could read and critique my work. I should also think about reading my work out loud, so I could hear what it sounded like. I’ve actually done that one before. It does help, because then you can catch awkward sentences and phrasing. Most importantly of all, Paolini congratulated on getting my book self published and wished me luck. Christopher Paolini really is a kind and helpful person. He probably gets hundreds if not thousands of fan letters a day. He could have ignored me, but instead chose to give advice to a newbie author. Thank you, Christopher Paolini. I really appreciated it.

Earlier this month, I returned to Yellowstone, this time to work at the front desk of one of the hotels. Previously, I had worked in two separate delis in the Park, but this time, upper management was willing to give me a chance in a different department. I’ve never worked at the front desk of any hotel, so I was looking forward to getting training.

We got to Yellowstone and for four days we learned about checking people in and out, how to make reservations, and even how to book activities, like horseback rides. It was a lot to take in, but now that I’ve been doing it for two weeks, it seems to be getting a bit easier. There’s still the odd request and I have to get a manager or senior’s help, but at least I’m remembering the basics.

It is hard to get used to a new job sometimes, but I really hope I’m doing well. I just have to remember what our trainer said and I’m paraphrasing, “You will make mistakes and that’s okay. Everyone starts at the beginning.” Good advice. With this job, like with writing, I will make mistakes, tons of them, but that’s the only way to learn. I got the hang of writing enough to write and self publish Silver Rose, I can learn how to run a front desk in a hotel. All it takes is practice.

At the end of April, I got a call from Yellowstone, wanting to talk to me about my possible employment there. Given the fact that Yellowstone’s start date was pushed back, I wasn’t too surprised. They would hardly need me in late April, if they weren’t going to open until June. I talked to the Yellowstone representative and she told me that they were still considering me for the front desk at one of their hotels. The next day, I got an email confirming it. My brother will be working in their cafeteria. We’ll be flying out to Montana in early June.

From what I understand, things are going to be run a little differently this year. I’ve seen a closure list and I know that only the Old Faithful Lodge and the Snow Lodge will be open in the Old Faithful area. And even then, it’s strictly the cabins. I heard that there’s going to be a skeleton crew this year, because few people will be staying. Everyone had to alter their reservations, even my uncle, who visits Yellowstone once a year. I’ll be there at the front desk to check him in when he arrives.

I don’t know the other restrictions this year, except that all food will be takeout and the cabins have their own bathrooms. What I do know is that this year will be an adventure. A short adventure, at only four months, but an adventure nonetheless. My mom has said that she would like to be a fly on the wall, just so she could see what it’s like.

A few days ago, my brother and I were supposed to be on a plane, heading for Montana. The following morning we were going to get on a bus and drive into Wyoming and into Yellowstone National Park itself. All that changed, however, when we got a series of emails from Yellowstone.

In the emails, we were told that because of COVID-19, the start date was being postponed. Okay, not too surprising. I mean, even they don’t know what’s going on, so they decided to wait and reevaluate the summer season. Instead of beginning at the end of April, my new start date became May 22nd. So, I went about my business, believing that everything would just be delayed a month. Last week, I got an email saying that the start time was again being pushed back to mid-June and that fewer people would be working there this summer. They want to make sure everyone stays safe, so all the employees are going to get their own private dorm rooms. The staff will have to be cut in half to compensate, but then again, I’ve heard that not everything will be open immediately.

Now, this is just the information I’ve been given or heard through their general updates to the public. Nothing is set in stone. I will say this, however, I hope everyone remains safe and happy, and if you do visit Yellowstone, enjoy your stay.

This has been an interesting time, ever since I learned that the COVID-19 was more serious than I originally thought. Since then, I have had more time to write, read, watch movies, and cook. I have gotten a lot of my sequel, “Silver Crescent” written, whole chapters in fact. I read books I haven’t had the opportunity to read yet, like Kerry Greenwood’s first two “Miss Fisher” books. They’re really good, especially if you like Australia in the 1920’s.

As I write this, “A Muppets Christmas Carol” is playing in the background. This is one of my favorite movies. Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” is a good story, but I like the Muppet version the best. Michael Caine is great as Scrooge and the addition of the Muppets makes the story even more enjoyable. Yesterday, I watched the 2017 live-action “Beauty and the Beast.” The 1991 “Beauty and the Beast” is my all time favorite movie of all time, but the live-action version had some good moments too. I especially love Dan Stevens as the Beast singing, “Evermore.” By far the best new song in the movie. It’s a powerful song showing the Beast’s anguish when Belle leaves to rescue her father.

The last thing I’ve been doing is “cooking.” I’m really not much of a cook, but I’ve been able to help make things like spaghetti and salad. My mom and brother are the cooks in my family and they’ve making some wonderful dishes, like macaroni and cheese, stuffed shells, homemade pizza, and chicken.

I hope everyone stays safe out there and that COVID-19 passes quickly. Have a wonderful, productive, and safe day, everyone!