It amuses me when friends from home ask me what I'm doing for Thanksgiving. I suppose this is because for the better part of two decades, my family has ventured to West Virginia for the holiday. The Greenbrier is a luxury resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Once upon a time, it housed an underground bunker for the US Congress during the Cold War. Most recently, the hotel was purchased from CSX by local billionaire Jim Justice, who plans to revert the hotel to its glory days of five stars and American tradition. As such, the former entrance is being dug up for an underground casino and the old furniture store has been converted to hotel lobby. For the most part, not much has changed over the years. The second cousins get bigger, the bowling pins become more worn out and the service is fairly consistent, with a few exceptions.
This year was more enjoyable than last. Instead of spending night after night with my nose in the computer, I stepped away from Darden. We bowled nightly and then wandered through the casino. I don't gamble much, but it's fun to watch. I was productive in reference to booking airfare for Sweden (no backing out now!!) and a trip to Paris while I'm abroad. For good sport, I also purchased a new iPod Nano on Black Friday. It always amuses me how much pressure is put on Black Friday as for the last 18 years I've been hulled up at the Greenbrier the day after Thanksgiving.
I have a lot to be thankful for this year and can't believe I'm 1.5 weeks away from being 3/4 finished with my MBA. It'll be interesting to return to the Greenbrier next year, fully employed, with a brand new casino and likely updated hotel rooms. Who knows what else will change in the next 300 plus days.
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