The Unexpected Guest

So, you weren't planning on hosting anyone tonight but because of circumstances you've now ended up with an overnight crasher. You might be expecting me to say is that this is a major faux pas, however I may just surprise you.

I am generally of the opinion that if you have a guest room you should maintain it so that if the need arises you can offer it up to someone in a mishap or someone passing through. I have learned this after being in a number of situations where I was traveling and needed a place to stay. I had friends and acquaintances gracious enough to offer up their guest room. This simple act of kindness was a life saver and so much nicer than staying in whatever last-minute hotel I could find.

When I was in college, I was road tripping back with a friend from my brother's graduation from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. We had several friends we were planning to see along the way. We planned stops across the South in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana. We never expected to end up in Alabama for the night.

One thing led to another, and we weren't going to make it to Louisiana at a good hour, so we decided to stop in Mobile, Alabama. I was unfamiliar with the area, so I reached out to one of my sorority sisters that I knew lived in Mobile and I asked her where she suggested we stay. To my surprise, she kindly offered us the use of a guest room in her family’s home.

We were delighted to take her up on the offer. We stopped at a little stand we saw on the side of the road and picked up a delicious looking jar of Jelly as to not come empty handed. Later that evening we pulled up to classic, stunning two-story brick house.

My friend’s mom had jambalaya waiting for us, and I still maintain it's one of the most memorable meals I've ever had. I'm not sure if it was because of our travels or if it was really the best jambalaya I've ever had, but no meal has ever tasted so good.

After our meal she led us upstairs to the most darling guest room with two twin beds and a bookshelf with the most enticing reads ranging from classics to dog training books. We slept wonderfully and woke up to the beautiful glow of the Southern sun. We then took showers, packed, and headed downstairs to thank our host.

We got in our car and began driving to our next stop. I thought to myself how I had just experienced the most wonderful gift that any Southerner could give. This was an instance of true Southern hospitality.

What I learned from this friend and her mother was that having a well-kept guest room is a special way you can help you take care of those around you. Inviting others into your home can make a great deal of an impact on someone else’s life. I suggest keeping this in mind and always be willing to host, even if your space is not perfect. After all, we all can use a little bit of Southern hospitality in our lives!

Share your favorite stories about Southern hospitality in the comments below!

As always,

Alli