I may be the boldest bellman since Tim Roth in that ridiculously-awesome final scene of Four Rooms… but credit where it’s due: most of the time I’m merely reacting to the madness around me.
And that madness is brought to the hotel by travelers of all shapes, sizes, philosophical leanings and millions of other distinctions, kids.
Take the half-dressed, blonde-in-a-bottle, teenage girl (a mini-skirt and a barely-there top are fine for a Canadian winter… if you want to turn blue in minutes, that is) from California (where else?) who took issue with one of the answers I provided to one of her mother’s many questions.
Cougar Mom asked if I enjoyed my job. My answer was, well, typical of my rather unique mind, I suppose.
“Are you kidding? It may be frustrating as hell, and I have to sometimes launch into a rant in the service elevator… and my blog… but no two days are the same. I’ve met some incredibly-cool people and it’s allowed me to provide for my family and even buy some comics every once in awhile. What else could I ask for?”
Cougar Mom’s offspring wasn’t happy with that answer. At all.
“Seriously? You actually like having to carry people’s bags for money? I don’t get it! What’s so great about being a bellboy?”
Well since you asked – you little bitch – here we go:
1) It’s never boring – ever. The phrase, “There’s never a dull moment” has never been more applicable. Sure there are many weekdays in the winter that contain so much mind-numbing boredom that a bellman will often consider other lines of work – and maybe even doing a line or two – but then Mistress Fate will step in and send another mini-adventure/blog post my way.
Where else could I find such a collection of motley characters? Stephen King may be the master of horror, but his characters are works of fiction, where mine are all-too real. And while some of them should be committed, I have to thank them for coming into my life and challenging me, forcing me to confront truths about myself and allowing me to be the best Hook I possibly can be.
2) My co-workers are, well… I used to work with a guy, a housekeeper who was a budding filmmaker. He made video rants/opinion pieces covering a wide variety of subjects; he chose locations like his bedroom, back yard and of course, empty rooms in the hotel.
Where he was shirtless.
And he discussed subjects such as pedophilia in a very… unique way, shall we say? (You had to see the videos.)
Yes, I’ve no doubt disturbed you, but hear me out: this guy is an extreme case but the fact remains, life behind-the-scenes at a hotel is filled with just as many kooky characters as it is unbelievable guests. Many of these people are actually decent, hard-working folks.
And some of them are just plain nuts.
By the way, the Vegan Housekeeper? Some of his videos have appeared on Tosh.O and Daniel Tosh even sent him to California to interview other vegans.
This is a good time to move on, right?
3) I rub elbows – but nothing else – with celebrities. O.J. Simpson. Air Supply. Detective William Murdoch himself, Yannick Bisson. Gaga before she was super-nova hot. Several of The Sopranos “crew” (actors, I mean). Wayne Gretzky. Pink (though no one was allowed to address her or breathe the same air). Gillian Anderson. Even DJ Jazzy Jeff (who was kind of a jerk). I’ve interacted with all of them, though I rarely write about it out of respect for their privacy and my need to remain gainfully employed.
Celebrities are just as wonderfully dysfunctional as the rest of us – more so in many cases – but we worship them like gods these days so people get all giddy when I mention them, hence their inclusion here.
4) I get paid to carry luggage around a luxury hotel while encountering situations that are literally stranger-than-fiction. What’s not to love?
5) I fancy myself a writer. And a writer needs something to write about or his creative juices back up. Trust me, you don’t want to see me when I’m backed up. It’s scary.
Loved that part, didn’t ya?
The point is, a writer/blogger/tweeter/hack couldn’t ask for a better collective muse than the thousands of individuals on both sides of the counter at a hotel in Niagara Falls. I’m a lucky bastard. Period.
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m glad the little peroxide princess – and uber beyotch – went there. Told you there’s always something worth writing about, didn’t I?
See you in the lobby, kids…
And as a bellman, you have so many ‘hooks’ to choose from in whatever story you chose to write. By the way, you’re a good writer, and I bet you’re an excellent bellman!
You’ve made my day, young lady.
Thank you from the bottom of my Canadian heart.
Gosh you’re a fantastic writer! You make being a bellman sound even more interesting than being a waitress, and that is not an easy thing to convince me of.
See you in the Lobby!
Trust me, I couldn’t hack being a server – you’re a special breed…
Ahaha, that we are- nothing like keeping a big smile of your face whilst someone spits their “tough”, chewed up steak in your hand. You seem pretty special yourself though! I promise I’d be an awful bellman; my muscles are too weak!
All it really takes is an adaptable personality and the ability to think quickly on your feet.. you’d be perfect!
Thank you so much! :))
I simply call ’em as I see ’em…
But you’re welcome.
Nothing better than live blog fodder!
It’s the greatest…..
You know, I kind of want of become a bellman now…
You’d be a natural, X.
If not for the part where you have to get up at some ungodly hour, I’d have considered it.
So you’ve never had a dull moment? Not even one day of your career has been mundane?
Not the entire day.
There’s at least one memorable moment every day.
Robert, whatever the reason for your inspiration, be it teenaged peroxide bitches or shirtless vegan pedophiles, we’re just glad you have the wit and wherewithal to share it. And I’m sure your psychiatrist feels the same way. Cheers to you and what you do, my friend!
Now you’ve gone and made me cry, Ned…
Nothing wrong with that. Unless you’re an ugly crier.
Nice post. (quit saying hack)
Will do, John.
Ha ha ha.
I’ve been hooked since day 1. I’d ask who her fave celebs are and in response say..met him…met her…and as she was walking off the elevator I’d hiss…and you didn’t…poor little kid.
I hear you, old friend.
Your friendship/support keeps me going.
So now the world knows who to blame…
You should write about the celebrities you’ve met! Wow!
I’ve been reluctant to write about the “stars” I’ve met because of privacy issues, but maybe…
Jackie Collins thinly disguised them in her books.
But am I as clever as Jackie Collins?
careful how you answer that…
You are a lucky bastard, and so are we, your readers!
When you’re right, you’re right!
Thanks!
May Mistress Fate deal that little bitch (LB) a fine job in waitressing one day. It is a humbling experience that we ALL should have to walk, at least for a little while. (Like getting through college for a “real job,” after which LB can condescending tell future servers how she “used to do this when she was in college.”)
And – AGREED. 100%. Without the experiences we have outside our homes, what WOULD we write about? (There’s only so much complaining people want to hear about cleaning up hairballs and unclogging your 15yo son’s toilet.)
Good point, Taraka.
This is great. You’re right, where could you find a better collection of nut cases to write about.
I have no idea, Mark…
Rubbing elbows with O.J. Simpson? My, my, and you lived to tell about it. I hear the new movie on O.J. is a hoot. With John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, that’s entertainment!
I can only offer my personal opinion, but he was actually ridiculously-nice to me.
I guess he wasn’t usually the rude type in public.
Did OJ give you a glove to carry?
There might have been one in his bags, who knows?
Many stories to be sure and we appreciate you sharing them!!!! Keep up the great observations! Oh and can you get me an autograph of Yummy Yannick Bisson???? 😉