Being a Shabbos Guest

We went to our hostess that was listed in the booklet. Wasn't that smart of them? To mail the booklets of where everyone is staying prior to arriving on Friday, so we can know in advance who and what and where we should go? So we don't have to bother the Bar Mitzvah boys mommy? I thought that was smart. So I double checked the address, and off we went. So close to the shul. We started unloading the car and the older kids went to ring the doorbell. Finally someone answers while I am taking some luggage out of the car. I see my husband is talking to the hostess' and can't really hear what is going on, but I do see that he is NOT going inside with the kids or the luggage. After about five minutes of trying to figure out why no one is moving I hear her say, "Oh, let me call the one who arranged it all and find out where you are staying.." OOPS, words you do NOT want to hear. She first tried to send us next door, but there already was a family trooping inside their house. What was the story? It seems that we were supposed to stay by her, that is why she was down as our hostess, but last minute, things changed and we were not supposed to stay there anymore! BUT no one bothered to tell us the last minute change! So we look stupid while her husband calls to find us a home.

So after a while of standing outside and feeling homeless and starting to regret the trip, she gives us a name and address around the corner, to the correct hostess' and wishes us a good shabbos. Of course we want you to stay, but they have the rooms set up for you and if we take away their guests again, they wont talk to us... So off we went, packing up the car again, and explaining to the kids that we made the mistake and this is NOT where we are staying even though they wanted to stay. Off we went around the corner.

Great accommodations. Except for some odd reason, the central a/c that works so nicely in the ENTIRE house did NOT work in our room. What do you do? The hostess asked me how the room was...And I said it was fine...And then she said, "oh, I forgot to tell my kids to have rachmunus...They like the a/c on so high they can freeze you out". With that comment I said, it was not so cold. But what could I do? What do I do? Do I tell her, lady you have a great house. The room looks great, the beds were great..But your a/c did NOT work down there in that one room? OR do I let the next guest be the one to tell her. But then again, most guests wont complain to someone who so nice to let them sleep there...So I guess...I will just request NOT to stay there again in the summer :-)

I have learnt a lot over this weekend. If I have people show up at my door by mistake, I will invite them into my house and offer them a place to sit while we figure out the mix up. I also learnt...ALWAYS test your guest room out before having guests. Sleep in the room for one night so you can see what is wrong, because no one is going to tell you!!