The Lobby

I step into the large lobby of the place that will be home for the next couple of days.

A distinguished and jolly looking gentleman in the burgundy uniform of the hotel takes my luggage and places it on a trolley.

I make my way to the check in desk and it happens again. Another sparkling lovely with shinning eyes and shimmering hair awaits to greet me. Thankfully this time she is far too young for me. Clearly a Millennium of no more than 20, her enthusiasm and bouncing bunny like energy is the most endearing I have seen in a while.

After taking my passport and credit card she turns to tap away on the PC to her side. With great confidence she manipulates the machine, clearly au fait with a keyboard. Being a Millennium, as I have heard them called, she has no doubt been sending millions of texts, posts, status updates and all other manner of technical wizardry since she was a child, cute and tech savvy -every nerds dream.

I find myself drifting into a bizarre conversation with my own conscience, the legitimacy of entering into a relationship with a girl at least ten years my junior begins to reconcile and balance with the moral scales of my mind.

I snap out of it just in time to hear, 'OK sir, your room is ready for you, may I just take a minute to take a copy of your Passport? I'll be right back'

She reached out and touched my hand as she said so. A pulse of her youthful energy shockwaved through my skin and bone as her baby kitten eyes dived straight into my soul.

'10 years are not that long', the awe filled part of me starts to whisper in my head. 'Some great relationships are built on such differences.' Logic and reason started to lend a hand and my mind's eye filled with images of distinguished gentleman happily involved with a younger flame.

I almost thump the desk to get myself out of this wistful trance. This trip is all about sorting myself out, bringing me back to some sort of functioning reality. I'm a grown man, it's time to get my s**t together!

She returns with a male colleague of about the same age, hands me my documents and gives me the room key card.

'Enjoy your stay in Miami sir, if there is anything you need then just ring down and we will see what we can do.'

I smile and thank her, turn to the elevator and hit the button.

I stand wearily watching the counter make its way down to the lobby.

'Kaizen just KiK'd me', I overhear my lovely receptionist say as she points to her phone, 'he's taking me Sedgewaying down on the beach on Saturday!'

The elevator doors open just in time for me to escape the reality that for sure I was no longer as young as I thought I was and that perhaps 10 years is just a little too large a distance for me.