Some housekeeping notes: Nora and I divided the 2024 summer travel stories. I’ll handle Greenbrier, while she’ll send a recap of the family trip to Hatteras in the next few weeks.

There is no overseas travel this year due to a ton of stateside family events. We’ll resume the longer travelogues in 2025 when Nora and family head back to Ireland. More to come on that trip when we get closer.

For now, here’s my interpretation of our week at The Greenbrier:

We had an easier ride down this year — with no sudden moves to the shoulder of the road to avoid being hit by a semi. OK, it was smooth for me since I was a passenger and could look away from the busy I-81.

The first stop was to collect our good friend JoAnne . It was so good to see her since she’d missed Girls Spa during May. Sarah met us halfway, then Kat and Griffin came down a couple hours later.* Kayla had tickets to a concert on Saturday night, so she arrived on Sunday.

Check in was smooth as our concierge, Bonnie, and the team at the front door were ready and waiting. The suite felt fresh and renewed when we walked in. We quickly learned the HVAC was upgraded, some of the rooms were repainted and several sofas recushioned. And since the forecast was for up and down weather all week it was important to feel comfortable inside.

We all unpacked, then met on the patio for a toast to our 8th trip to Greenbrier and being together. Once we finished the first bottle — ok so it was more than ONE toast — I put together our outdoor centerpiece, something we’ve done since 2017. The hydrangea in an empty bottle of Veuve Cliquot marks the official start to the trip.

On our first full day we settled into routines. I discovered coffee is served at 6 am in the upper lobby of the main hotel. Honestly, it made my early mornings to find that coffee station. Sarah was grateful as well. While a big rainstorm was forecast for Sunday afternoon, the morning was lovely so Kat and Griffin took off for some pool time. Nora and Jo got in a workout.

I set up my work space in the card room. (Wish I had a photo for you.) Our first year, we played Euchre with Ruth Langan in the card room every evening and stayed away from the Red Room. As the visits stacked up, I’ve taken over the room and use the desk for morning work.

Nora put in a solid 3 hours of work — on the last book in the Lost Bride Trilogy, since I know people will ask.

Kayla arrived before the storm — and the very large group taking over the hotel for the week. We had Bonnie on call for the arrival time, but since she’s so familiar with the place, Kayla found her way to the suite by way of the patio. I was sitting outside painting when I heard a “Hi, Laura!” and watched Kayla walk through the patio entrance — a good 20 minutes before her ETA. She’d figured that someone would be outside or at least the door would be open and she could walk in.

While Kayla was absolutely right about both, that would change as the week went on.

Kat examined the daily schedule and realized there was a brand new theme to one of the escape rooms on property. Nora, Sarah and Kayla were all for it.

Blog family, you know how I feel about games, right? Escape rooms, to me, are just games in 3D. I declined. JoAnne did too, so we hung out with Griffin in the Red Room. We took our time and put about 30 pieces in the Girl Book puzzle Nora brought. I think that ended up being our entire contribution.

The Escapees returned pretty quickly — in spite of Kat’s stunned look. They learned that one of the two rooms changes every year so they have plans for 2025.

Before escaping, Kat, Griffin, Kayla and Nora went over to the arcade for what would become their daily stop (I passed up the Arcade in favor of the spa — what can I say? Games). Word from the quartet was Nana kicked some butt. And Kat had photo proof.

Then, as on most rainy afternoons, we settled in to read and chat.

Glass blowing has been a Greenbrier highlight over the years. This year, Mike, the owner of the glass studio requested that we break our sessions into two days because of heat and requests from the big group. Kat and Kayla took the first shift on Tuesday.

Kat had a vision of creating a piece that looked like twisted yarn or rope. Kayla wanted to make an ornament. After a reminder of all the safety rules involved, Mike helped them work toward those goals.

In the meantime, Nora, Griffin and JoAnne hung out in the Red Room, puzzling and playing Games. I went to the spa with Sarah.

Kat had arranged for a surprise joint birthday cake to be delivered on Tuesday night. My birthday was the day before we arrived, Kayla’s was two days after our return. As always, the bakers at The Greenbrier rose to the occasion.

And then, my friends, we played Hearts. Even me since it’s tradition.

The next morning, Nora, Sarah and I headed to the glass studio. I wanted to make a paperweight, Nora wanted a paperweight more like an obelish while Sarah was thinking a teardrop shape. It’s always fun to get back into that creative mode. Plus, this time Mike let us all experience handling the blob of hot glass in the furnace. Roll with all 10 fingers and don’t stop is the best advice.

After glass blowing, we went our separate ways until it was time to dress for our annual steak dinner at Prime 44.

Of course, once dinner was over, half of us got back into comfy clothes, while the other half went down to try the Casino. After all Kayla’s nearly 22, so she wanted to give it a go.

There was a promise of a sunset, so I sat in my favorite place on the patio, alone. I was texting my husband and scrolling a bit, when I saw movement to the right out of the corner of my eye. Thought it was one of the others coming back from a different part of the property. But no.

It was a baby bear.

Six feet from me.   And less than 6 feet from going through the open door.

I popped out of my chair, yelling.  I was so quiet and my white sweater blended with the white furniture, it never saw me.  Seriously. I scared it as much as it scared me.
It took a step toward me in panic, then backed up and headed to the wall.  With me telling it to leave.

As I yelled at it, my brain said, ‘take a photo!!!!’ 

I actually said “wait!!” to a fleeing bear. Then I hit the selfie lens on my phone and saw my very surprised face.  So I never got a photo.  And I didn’t take the selfie

Ran inside to tell the others, and we unanimously decided to keep the door shut from now on. The next morning, I shared my adventure with Bonnie. She listened, laughed, and said she was worried I’d say it was the family of skunks who played on the patio this spring. Honestly, I told her, I think we’d have handled skunks better.

Mainly, I was just grateful Mama Bear didn’t follow her baby onto the patio.

After we left, Bonnie sent me this photo from her backyard (!!) and yes, the little guy to the left was just about the size of my friend.

Usually Nora and I have some kind of media work to do during Greenbrier week. This year I took it as an opportunity to film Nora answering some In Death questions that I’ll put to good use to celebrate Bonded in Death (#60 and out in February). and we did a Facebook Live. (I tell the bear story there as well.

On Friday, we changed some things up. It was a sticky afternoon so most of us were hanging in the Red Room, reading. For some reason, I decided to check the Peacock app on my phone about the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, and when it came on, there was Lady Gaga beginning her song along the steps of the Seine! It’s a Gaga group, so I ran into the Green room (below) to turn on the TV. And we all found a comfortable spot to watch the extravaganza unfold.

Everyone – except me – hasn’t felt comfortable spirit wise in that room. I know why: it screams sporty men’s club! (I get a sense of racing forms and bourbon scattered about when I walk in there.) Plus the AC just roars in that room so you are either talking or shouting. But the spirits relaxed once I put the Olympics on.

When it was time for bed, I apologized to the spirit gang when I turned the TV off, and promised I’d put it back on the next morning.**

It was probably the most used it’s been since we started staying in the suite in 2017. On the first full day of events,  we watched events all day  – leaving the TV on for them even if we had to leave the room. 

And then, all of a sudden, it was time to leave. We spent Saturday packing up everything scattered about, getting some last-minute patio time and making plans for our ninth visit in 2025. As always, it was a wonderful week.

Laura

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*While we waited for Kat and Griffin, we moved from the patio into the Red Room. Nora, JoAnne, Sarah and I heard some soft voices down the hall. Nora went to greet Kat and Griffin, but no one was there. Absolutely no one. Our first meeting with the spirits, done and dusted.

**Kat went back downstairs about 30 minutes later and the tv was back on. I spoke sternly to the spirits the next night and promised I’d get the tv on so the could see Simone Biles early on Sunday. I kept that promise and peace reigned.