Thank You For Noticing.

Last night, to ring in the New Year, Robb cashed in some hotel points from a year's worth of business travel. The boys stayed with my parents, for a New Year's Eve Bash with Grandma and Poppa: complete with hats, balloons, a buffet of their favorite snacks, and ice cream before bedtime.

We dropped the boys off, and Robb and I ran happily away for the night.

Robb spared no expense with his hotel points, and we stayed at one of the nicest hotels in town. When we checked in, surrounded by high class of all kinds, Robb and the host behind the counter exchanged various pleasantries about Robb's loyalty to their hotel chain, how many points he had accumulated, and my, what a year of travel.

And, then...

He said, "Ma'am, we would like to personally thank you for your loyalty as well. We know that when a businessman accumulates this many nights away, it is the spouse at home who makes the sacrifice. May we upgrade your room this evening?"

"Why, yes. Yes, you may. And may I say, you have just made my New Year by saying so."

And with a few click-click-clicks, he handed us the key to our room on the concierge floor. We were upgraded to a suite with a living room, bedroom, 1 1/2 baths, 2 closets, robes, slippers, a jacuzzi terrace (translated: on the roof), full view of the fireworks, complimentary cocktails, appetizers, and breakfast, and living space larger than our first apartment.

All thanks to my loyalty.

(I told Robb we should invite some people to join us... it felt nearly wasteful to have that much space, all to us, for one night. But, um, no dice. It was just us. And it was so great.)

Not a bad payoff. And not a bad way to ring in the New Year.