Recognizing an Unintended Yet Authentic Compliment

     It was Sunday and Tamra had been busy all morning cleaning the kitchen and living room.  The house was looking nice.  Anyone with kids knows how difficult it can be to maintain a tidy house.  I was doing my part clearing snow from the driveway.   

    This was the last day of our Spring Break and we had awoken to a foot of fresh new snow.  After a couple of hours of snow blowing and shoveling I unloaded our snow machines off of the trailer and lined them up neatly in the driveway.  We would go riding later.   I was kinda proud of my neat and tidy snow removal job.

    “See you later, I’m going to go see Jojo.”  Tamra’s aunt was recovering from a knee replacement surgery.  

    “Okay, see you later, have fun.”  

    So there I was in the kitchen holding-down-the-fort.  The kids were upstairs and I had just began cooking some chowder.  I had a few packages of Kirby’s razor clams thawed and the moose- bacon was already sizzling on the stove.  I dumped in the diced red onions, carrots, and celery.  The aroma was filling the room. This is going to be good, I thought.

      Although there wasn’t even so much as a knock, suddenly the front door swung open.  Was Tamra back already, I thought?

    In walked a couple of Japanese girls.  They looked to be mid twenties and were now standing in the arctic-entryway apparently making themselves at home.  They were wearing trendy clothes and had carry-on bags in their hands. My mind raced.  Are we expecting company? I thought.

    “Hello.” I said.

    A smile overcame me as figured it out.  Our next door neighbors run a fairly busy bed and breakfast.  Often throughout the summer, rental cars will come wheeling up into our driveway asking directions and wondering if this is the right spot.  It doesn’t bother me, in fact I find it complimentary that so many folks mistake our home for a fancy bed and breakfast worthy of rental.  

    I have had conversations with wayward travelers from England, Australia, Germany and after today, Japan. “Next one down” I tell them and although they are really close to their destination, for some reason they always seem to pull into our driveway.  

    “Check-in?” The first girl said.  It might very well have been the only words of English that she knew.  The strong Japanese accent was unmistakable.  Although she was attempting to communicate with her limited English, her eyes were looking up and into the greatroom.  Both of them were checking out the place.  Eye-contact was lacking as per Japanese culture.  It was obvious that they just wanted to be welcomed-in and shown their room!

    We have a lot of cool Alaska “stuff” hanging on our walls and banister.  Under the high arch leading out of the arctic entry is a large caribou rack.  I’ve got a bunch of furs hanging on the wall from trapping and hunting, and the two giant spruce burls are centered on the living room.  Our open kitchen is tucked into the back and can be seen beyond the river rock bar.  Our walls are covered with paintings of local artists.  

      I was amused at the situation and I tried to let them down gently.  “I’m sorry you’ve got the wrong place.” I said, “Next house down”.  I pointed in the right direction but there was still confusion in their eyes.  After another minute or so of confusing and somewhat pantomimed communication there was suddenly understanding.  It was like a light bulb was turned-on and suddenly they seemed to understand.  I picked up on a slight change of demeanor though and I got the distinct feeling that they were in fact let-down.  

  Walking backwards, they backed their way out of the house still looking around at all there was to see in our home and still avoiding eye-contact.  

    When the door shut close and I had a chance to reflect on the moment I headed back to the kitchen. I might have been walking just a little bit taller than I was before.

Harrison B&B???