Thursday, October 1, 2009

Eric & Dana

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of these two beautiful people whom I met yesterday in the hotel.

(while formulating the above sentence, I wasn't sure about the usage of the word 'whom'. While googling for it, I came across this website which gave an example with the city SEATTLE in it: "Mrs. Dimwit consulted an astrologer whom she met in Seattle. (She met him in Seattle.)"......it still haunts me!!)

I work parttime in a hotel. A second job which I have on the side to pay for college, etc. ( Well, I graduated college about a month ago...but still have this job. :) )



43 year old Eric and Dana are an American couple from Flint, Michigan (United States). They've really changed my view on American people. Actually...they've changed my view on people in general even more: NEVER judge people on their looks. Of course, you already knew this. Right? It's always either beautiful or...not that beautiful. :P Personality doesn't always matches the appearance.

Eric invited me in his room. At first, I had mixed feelings about his invitation because I thought he wanted to beat me up because the hotel forgot to fill his minibar with some beers. But then I saw his wife sitting comfortably in the leather chair behind him and I accepted his invitation.
He looks extremely intimidating with his long goatee, wide chest, dark short hair and his arms covered with tattoo's untill the wrists (probably his whole upper body). The way he talks, it was like he was Steve Irwin himself. But his personality is the exact opposite. I even made this tough looking man cry for a moment: I told both Dana and him I wish my future wife's parents would be just like them.
I said this because I was overwhelmed by their hospitality (they insisted me I should sit down and have a(n alcoholic) drink with them) and the conversations about the view on life.

My new mate told me he's going back to The States as a changed man after this Amsterdam trip. But he told me that I made his whole trip. Probably because of our deep, deep conversation about life and culture (probably also after I gave him two stolen beers from an unbooked room). :P
His wife Dana looks like an ordinary woman: no tattoo's (haha), jeans, black boots, purple top, long brown hair in a ponytail and blue eyes. She's got one of the most beautiful personality I've ever felt. Yes you can actually feel someone's personality in your gut by just talking to the person. It felt good when I was with them. I love 'm.

So...I have a new house (in Michigan); "Mi Casa es su Casa!" is what Eric said to me.
And a boat (Eric & Dana love chilling and getting tanned on boat trips).
And Eric can build me a Harley Davidson-type chopper for only under $8000 (he is a RIDER and builds his own choppers). Flint, here I come!
I kissed Dana three times on her cheeks (Dutch way of saying goodbye...(and hello)) and gave Eric a big hug. Eric: 'That's how we do up there!'. He even kissed me on the cheek while hugging me.....but that's ok.


- Flint, Michigan. Taken by Paul Hitz -


I don't think I will ever meet a couple like Eric & Dana again. I felt welcomed, protected, like they were my parents for an hour. But they are my parents. My American parents. We will be reunited, one day........

24 comments:

diane said...

That is so sweet; the rich man is one with many friends. I can see why they liked you, the warmth and kindness in your personality isn't easy to hide. Better make sure you put Seattle on your list of places to go when you visit Flint.

Thanks for your note today, it meant a lot to me.

Maria Confer said...

What a beautiful story! It's amazing how a random meeting can change so much! Like I said, Michigan people do rock and are really friendly!! I'm so glad that they did an excellent job representing us and that you get to see them again.

lululetty.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hahahaha!! This story made me laugh too much! and now that you named Seatle I remember that some days ago I met 2 guys from The States and one of them was from Seatle and said (after a looong conversation and a lot of beers)
that I'd have a house there if I would travel some day and I thought: Why not? =D...
I also love Seatle and if some day I go over there, it would be the coolest thing in my whole life... so you have to take the chance and go there!

Suzanne said...

Haha, wat grappig zeg. Voelt heel vertrouwd allemaal. Ik wil echt een foto, haha!

Thnx voor je comment. ELLE gaat niet stoppen. Voor zo ver ik weet loopt het als een speer. Wel gaat de winkel ELLE in NL weg. Maar das minder erg ;)

Suusje

Evelyn said...

How beautiful was this encounter!
It's always great to meet some people that with different background, age group, personalities and experience, you can see something different. American is very nice, they are very open-minded to everything, that changed my view towards them since I met them!!
Have a nice coming weekend!!
( kiss 3 times on cheeks= byebye! )

Raj said...

Aww that's soo cool :)
It's awesome how you can meet people from like half way around the world, and instantly feel connected with them. They sound awesomee :)
Luckyyy you getting a new house, American parents, a boat and a possibly a Harley Davidson type chopper for under $8000... all in a days work!

Katarina Kühl ~ PencilFashion said...

wonderful!
i know i know, the left arm is some kind of... lost ;)
it should have been under the blue scarf, but it really looks kind of weird.
but, whatever, i can always say: it's art folks, haha!

TMFA said...

Wow, Daniel. What a beautiful story! Beautiful experience as well. Thanks for sharing :)

perezvila™ said...

I was coming to your blog to answer your post in the other blog... and i came acrosss this beatiful story... that, really cheered up my morning....

Certainly it's beatiful when ppl surprises you... in a good way.

About your post! that one other blog it's not mine... heheh, i write there a humor column, one day a week. The blog belongs to a sports journalist friend of mine... by the way... my column its an horoscope!! (a funny one.. of course)

I really like the fact that you like my other blog more... becouse the other its only mine!!!
hehehe

Have a good morinig!!!

and if you ever come to south america... mi casa es tu casa amigo!!

Arushi Khosla said...

Aw, they sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing, darling!

Maria Confer said...

Just drove through Flint last night on my way to my parents cottage. Made me think of your story!

dnqcnn said...

I see a little trip coming ;) I'll gladly volonteer to join you!

nycrun said...

your posts always draw me in
http://nycrunfashion.blogspot.com

Rita said...

Daniel!!! I live for moments like this!!! What a great, beautiful experience... This actually reminds me of an encounter I had last month with a girl from Germany... I was just sitting at Central Park and she came up to me and we talked for a very long time about many things... And it was so nice that we have been keeping in touch via e-mail since, and she always says that when I go to Munich, I have a place at her home... You deeeefinitely need to come to the US ASAP! (I will get back to your e-mail tomorrow :D)... And, oh, Seattle... Hahaha... It will happen!

leflassh. said...

yay to you taking me to paris!
haha. it shall be wonderful.
and omg it's only 4 hours away from you?
your crazy. i would go there all the time if i was that lucky. for me it's more like 2 days on a plane :( booo
xx

Bradley Higgenbottom said...

Loved this story, one of the things i love about the World is how many different people you can meet each contributing some aspect to your life..

http://mrinsomniac.blogspot.com/

Lilian Montes said...

That story is very interesting. Hotels fascinate me. It's the only place I can easily feel close to others.

It reminds me a story of friend of me who has been introduced into a straight couple. The day after, they have call her ten times in the day and this during one week because they both fell in love with her...

x

Michael said...

I love the last photo you posted, it reminds me of small towns I visited last summer. I think you'll enjoy Flint, from the picture it looks beautiful.

Dominica said...

That's what we do it for ! Some people make us believe in humanity again ! These are the perfect example of wonderful human beings !!
...
So glad the picked you and I must say, you always seem like an enjoyable person to me ...
;-))

Suzanne said...

Haha, ja dat was het dus ook! Maar kan nooit wachten met plaatsen haha!

En wat bracht jouw in Bos en Lommer zaterdag??

Suusje

miriam said...

this is so sweet! at first i thought they had some dirtier things in mind, but that's lovely they turned out to be like your parents : )

and i'm fine JD. although, i wouldn't mind a holiday soon. a bit worn out...

This chick's got style said...

That sounds so special! You should go there this summer!!

Jason said...

That was an interesting encounter with the couple. I would be very cautious if someone I didn't know had invited me to their room - especially in NYC.

-Jason

Crystal Ball said...

How incredibly sweet and lucky of you to have met somebody like them. Your description made me love them, and I haven't even met them.
I've heard Michigan is a beautiful place and I really hope you do get to visit one day!