The Story of Sam
Kids, travel and a bellman
When you head on a vacation you really are unsure what you’re going to experience. Regardless where you go, whether you drive or fly, there is a sense of both relaxation but also some stress. Will we get there on time? Will our flights be on time? Will our hotel and the other places have our reservations correct? It goes through everyone’s mind on a vacation.
With kids along there is a bit more stress added instead of the relaxation part. In fact, it’s more of a trip than a vacation. You’re taking care of your kids in a different city or state. It usually will reach a point where you can’t wait to get home. But oh the fun and memories it provides along the way.
We took our kids on a trip to Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. They love the Home Alone movies, so we went and checked out the Home Alone house in Winnetka, IL. My wife and I also loved the movies, so it was fun for us all.
It’s really cool to see in person. The entire time we were there, families were walking up constantly taking pictures of it.
We also made stops at the Chicago Botanical Gardens (breathtakingly beautiful), the renowned Geneva Art Show, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Navy Pier.
What do you think the kids remembered the most and continue to talk about everyday since? The Home Alone house? The dinosaurs and mummies at the Field Museum? All the live animals, sharks and whales at the Shedd Aquarium? The ferris wheel and rides at Navy Pier?
None of those were it.
It was a man named Sam.
Sam was the bellman at the Thompson Hotel in downtown Chicago.
This was the first place that we stayed on our trip. Sam took care of our vehicle and brought all our luggage up to our room upon arrival. No small feat, as you’d think we packed enough to be away for a month.
What stuck out was how genuine Sam was. He connected with our kids immediately. Maybe it was the fact that he has kids himself.
Whenever we left the hotel he asked where we were headed and if we needed anything. If we went out to dinner, he asked where we were going. When we’d return, he asked how it was. He’d get excited when he saw the kids. That excitement was shared by the kids.
No matter where we went, the kids asked if Sam would be there when we returned. After we’d get in our Uber to head back to the hotel, they’d ask if Sam will be there?
As we pulled up they’d perk up whenever they saw him. They would get out and instantly run towards Sam. He would hug them. It was so cute to see.
In the mornings when we went out to go to breakfast though, Sam was never there.
The kids were sad. Where is Sam? The sad faces would ensue. They couldn’t see their friend.
It turns our Sam didn’t start his days until 2:00.
Why did a young man with a young family start his days at 2:00 and work late into the evenings? Because he likes to take his kids and see them off to school. He preferred that.
After four days, my kids at the ages of four and six bonded with a man whom they’d never met before.
It wasn’t all the animals, rides, big buildings or fancy things they saw that made them happy. It was a man named Sam. A man who is just genuinely nice and cares enough to talk with a family from Wisconsin. To make their stay feel memorable and treat them like apart of his family. That’s true hospitality.
He shared photos of his family. We took pictures on the last day. He and the kids even took some food and fed the birds and pigeons. It’s the simple things that results in smiles and memories.
We can all learn something from people like Sam. Being a genuine person who just wants to ask how you are, how your day was, how dinner was, are often overlooked. It’s the little things we neglect. All of us would be so lucky to meet someone like Sam who operates in the kind and genuine manner that he does.
What type of impact does Sam have on the Thompson Hotel? Imagine all the people he has touched and come back as repeat guests just because of him. To be honest the beds at the Thompson Hotel stunk. The beds were so short that my and my wife’s feet hung off the edge. Yes, I did share those thoughts with the hotel. It was annoying!
But do you think we will go back? Of course we will! We have to! When we left, that was the saddest part of the trip for the kids. They wondered when they would see Sam again. They hugged him, smiled and waved as we hopped in the vehicle to drive off.
It was the end of their time with their friend Sam. But it wasn’t the the end of hearing his name and asking when will we see him again. That’s all we’ve heard since we left.
There will come a time that we stay at the Thompson Hotel again because of Sam. When we arrive you can bet hugs will be shared with a bellman named Sam, who became a family friend.
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