Old Faithful Inn

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June 2003

My Stories

Slovenia & Croatia - Part 1

Slovenia & Croatia - Part 2

Barcelona

Bruges

Rome & Paris- Part 1

Rome & Paris- Part 2

New York Pretenders

6 National Parks in 6 wks

Mother of all Road Trips-1

Mother of all Road Trips-2

Mother of all Road Trips-3

Mother of all Road Trips-4

Containing Jim in Paris

Ranging the Yellowstone

Lisbon Portugal- Part 1

Lisbon and Sintra- Part 2

Evora Portugal- Part 3

Coimbra Portugal- Part 4

Porto Portugal- Part 5

At the Mammogram Office

Carmel Art Gallery

Venice- Part I

Veneto- Part II

Ravenna- Part III

Cinque Terre- Part IV

Vernazza Bonus- Part V

Granner

Crunch Time

Putting on the Ritz

Granada and Sevilla

Amsterdam

Tuscany and Umbria - 1

Tuscany and Umbria - 2

Driving in England

Dwelling in England

A Dozens Reasons

In the Hamam

Istanbul Greece Diary

Pearl Harbor Team

Old Girl

Paris

Provence

Grandpa's Cabin

Pay-It-Forward Latte

England and France

N. Italy - 1

N. Italy - 2

N. Italy - 3

N. Italy - 4

Lessons from 4 Corners

Mexico

Going to the Dogs

Don't Embarrass Me!

Letter from Siena

Arrivederci Roma

Joining the Matriarchs

Living History

Newlywed Game

Chaos Theory

Zach on the Road

Huckleberry Season

Stanley & the Sunbeam

I Dare Say

Legacy

Middle School Relay

Grad Party

Yellowstone

Moving On

Radio Shack

Newlywed Couches

Visitors

Old Faithful Inn

Snowbound

Sweet Potato

Mother Bear

Two Blondes in Iberia

Revisiting Spain

Four Seasons Camping

Curly's Truck.

Disaster Restorations

Bobbie the Wonder Dog

Ducks and Beavers

Wearing Red

Photo Boxes

Las Vegas Soufflé

40th Birthday Party

The Heart Tickler

Wonderful Little Things

Heritage Tour

Erickson Era

Old Buildings

Chelsea's

Split Seams

All Nighter

Talent Show

A Look Back

Somehow  it channels the Titanic and the elegance of a bygone era.  Vacationers gaping. Lights twinkling. Piano keys plinking. Yet no sea-sickness or disasters lurk aboard this century-old structure, Old Faithful Inn.

Three years ago, we visited Yellowstone’s Old Faithful as part of our whirlwind family “Heritage Tour” of places our grandparents lived and loved. We saw folks on cabin porches, sitting, doing little else. We wanted that. Today we have our own stay of days at an Old Faithful cabin; we’ve hardly left the area.

Last night I lay claim to mission rockers in a corner of the Inn lobby and began my long-awaited journey with Stephen Ambrose and his “Undaunted Courage” account of Lewis and Clark. It seemed appropriate for this place. Tonight, Jim and Annie play “Palace” on an antique illuminated card table on the second floor balcony while I sink into a cushy armchair on the main level. The chair doesn’t rock but makes up for it geographically: I can see just about everything. The scale, extravagance, and bustle of this log cabin interior demand my full attention. Surely, my book will keep a while. 

Upstairs the piano sings Fur Elise, then Chopin’s Nocturne. Eventually, a violin joins in. They play “What child Is This?” Today is June 20th. I am enchanted.  

Late arrivals pull bags inside and stare upwards. A young man motors his elderly grandmother across the lobby. A ten year-old boy rolls a large suitcase to the center of the room, pauses, and sets it flat. Something’s wrong. What is he forgetting? He unzips the bag. Out pops his younger brother, who bolts off. The older brother lays chase, suitcase in tow.

I set my book on the floor. This is better than television

.

I spot a middle-aged man wearing a red t-shirt bearing the words, “Bauer Family Road trip 2003.” (Why didn’t I think of that for the Heritage Tour, I wonder?) Once I take notice, these red-t-shirts are everywhere. A teenage boy covers his with a less conspicuous sweatshirt. Wheelchair Grandma spins by again; she wears one beneath her white cardigan and black lap blanket.

A family poses nearby, unencumbered by wheels or matching clothing. They have three cameras, infinite group combinations, and unsurpassed photo opportunities. The mom and teenage daughter laugh and tango to the Christmas music. They are unembarrassed. My heart warms for my Annie upstairs: that is us. Pretty soon the family looks for a willing photographer to shoot them all together. I volunteer—this is right up my alley, and besides, I have been enjoying their show. As I snap the pictures (on rotating cameras) someone taps my shoulder. Would I like to get in the photo, too? I consider it.

Outside the geyser’s set to erupt again at any moment, but I’ve already witnessed it multiple times, hanging out in the neighborhood so much. Instead, I’m ready for a hot shower and a date with Meriwether Lewis. Jim walks me back to our Snow Lodge Cabin, but he and Annie can’t seem to leave the Inn lobby quite yet this evening. I understand.

 

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