06/01/2021
As the sun sets on one year and rises up with the next, I reflect on the challenges and many rewards of life running a business such as this in 2020. And I realize I can guage the temperature of our societal climate throughout the year just by looking at my reservation calendar.
It began quiet as the winter snows in January and February... We started to lift our heads and emerge from hibernation in March, yet, as we stretched and yawned and rubbed the sleep from our eyes, we saw the storm on the horizon and quickly took cover in April and May... June offered hope for normalcy, July and August brought a sense of rebellion against all that had been holding us down and a pursuit of the things we love to do... And September thru December were met with an "I gotta get out of this house, I need to go SOMEWHERE, I need to do SOMETHING, I don't care what is going on in the world any more, I want to be with my people in a safe place SOMEWHERE ELSE!!" type of attitude.
And so was the evolution of a year unlike any we have seen before and an Airbnb reservation calendar that spun like the reels of a Vegas slot machine. Some guests gave up on 2020 early saying, "We'll try again next year." Others had faith in the future safety of travel and rescheduled for later dates. Sometimes a guest would cancel, and another guest would book up those dates within hours. Other times a booking would come through and then cancel before I had time to get in contact with them. It was apparent that, for every guest terrified to travel, there was another anxiously waiting for something to open up. And there is absolutely no judgment here! Because there is no right or wrong in these unprecedented times...only what is right for you and your family...and nobody has the right to tell you otherwise! Regardless of the situation, however, the only thing I knew was etched in stone was the fact that nothing was etched in stone.
The gratitude expressed by so many of my guests for the opportunity to safely get away with their families, friends...their people...at a time when society didn't feel safe leaving their homes, was heartwarming and provided confirmation that this has become more than a business... This type of "getaway" has become just that...a way to get AWAY... A necessity in stressful times and sometimes the only means for families and friends to be together and feel safe. And, as the owner of a little slice of heaven tucked away and socially distanced in the Arkansas hills on a magnificent lake, I feel the responsibility to share with those seeking solace, who otherwise would be unable to find it.
I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve others... To provide refuge... To share nature, the beauty of God's work... To meet so many wonderful people and share in their joy... I thank each and every one of you who trusted me to host you and to provide a safe space for you and your people in 2020, and I look forward to all the new, wonderful opportunities 2021 may bring!! Happy New Year, friends, may God bless us all!!
