eureka springs - day 1.

i went into work for a few hours this morning before heading down to eureka springs. i knew i was playing with fire by taking this trip alone, but i also simply felt compelled to do it. this place is extremely peaceful and quaint but is also kinda bittersweet.

i spent about three hours on the ground floor porch writing and just getting my thoughts on paper. i sat in an old, white rocking chair and talked to random strangers. it was great. i love meeting new people and finding random common interests.

around 6 p.m. i headed up to the rooftop restaurant for dinner and drinks. i talked to a few more random people. one couple invited me to sit with them for a drink, and that was great. i needed to be around people who don't know what's going on in my life right now. 

as i paid my tab, the waiter asked what brought me to eureka springs. i told him i just needed to get away for the weekend. we chatted a bit more, and then i admitted, "my mom died here about 10 years ago."

i almost expected him to say "freak!", but he didn't. i knew it was a semi-morbid thing to say. he asked, "oh, out in the car?" and i said, "yep. were you there?" he said he hadn't started working at the hotel until 2003 (she died in 2001). i asked if he thought there was anyone who worked at the hotel who has been there that long. he told me my first waiter was there - he wasn't the one who found her, but he was there. he took me downstairs to talk to him.

i knew he wouldn't say anything profound or anything, but it was interesting to talk to someone on the other side of the story, and it was interesting to get to tell him our side, too. many of the employees knew of the story - things like that just don't happen in eureka. the hotel has ghosts and hauntings... but not actual death. i appreciated that he took the time to talk.

so here i am, sitting outside again and will go to bed soon - with the lights on.