Richmond, VA (the city with slippery sheets)

My company is based out of Richmond, VA. When I started my job, just over a year ago, I was fortunate enough to spend a week in Richmond for training. Come on...a week?? In a hotel?? All expenses paid?? Can’t beat it! Sadly, not all the stories from that week were positive...

...I lost a battle with the hotel nightstand late one night...

My accommodations were at the Hilton in Richmond. Two queen beds, nightstand in between. Decent room.

The first night I arrived I wasn’t able to sleep very well. I awoke around 3 a.m. to use the bathroom. I chose to leave the light off as I was still half asleep. I slowly and carefully found my way back to the bed and was standing at the base when I made the decision to take a half jump to get back into bed.

Now, I know I am almost blind without my contacts but I felt I had judged the approach and positioning very well. It could have been a mis-jump or it could have been the highly unusual texture of the comforter (VERY, VERY slippery), I'm not sure we'll ever know. Whatever it was, I slide right off the bed and body tackled the nightstand.

Looking back, I am thankful. Thankful I didn't lose an eye out. I did, however, hit my right ear. Hard. I was down for the count. Dazed and confused, I tried to assess what had just happened. This type of shock is rough, especially when you're half asleep. I didn't want to touch my ear for fear that 1) it was gone or 2) it was bleeding (my benefits hadn't kicked in at this point...yowza).

I finally summed up the courage to check and…**good news**…my ear was there AND not bleeding. I stayed on the floor for a bit to let the dizziness and nausea pass and then went back to bed (sleeping on the left side of my head, of course).

I contemplated writing the Hilton a “slippery bed spread” complaint but couldn’t fully express what had happened on their postcard-sized comment card (another complaint! can this hotel get anything right?!?!) without sounding like I had been high or on drugs. Instead I iced my ear and caught the next flight to NYC.