After we signed up for the program, we were sent a listing of local motels, bed and breakfasts, and guest homes. Becky and I decided to stay at a guest home and the one we chose was the Hughes Guest Home. I spoke over the phone with a wonderful Virginian lady by the name of Genevieve "Gene" Hughes to make our reservations.
Since that initial visit 19 years ago, we have stayed with Gene close to 30 times in all four seasons and consider it our Williamsburg home. We have watched her grandchildren grow into fine young adults, we have been house sitters for her, we've been greeted by three different dogs, we have watched movies together at night and she popped popcorn for us. She welcomed Momma and Jessie for visits with us, she's introduced us to new restaurants in town, we've met her neighbors and best friends, we've been to church activities with her, and we have grown to love her family as our own.
Over the last several years, Gene has accepted fewer and fewer guests into her home and we knew there would come a day when she would tell us that she was closing her guest home even to old-timers like us. Well, that day has come and this will be our last visit with Gene. We are savoring every minute of our week with her and dread having to come up with alternate accommodations for our future visits. I've lost count of how many times in the past three days that we have said, "it just won't be the same."
Today we celebrated Grand Illumination in grand style here with Gene here in her home. Becky and I fixed a spaghetti supper for 17 people...old digging buddies from those archaeology summers and T@Bbing friends from recent years. It was a wonderful evening with friends in this home, with this lady that we love so much.