In 1965 when Anne and I got married, she was 19 and I was 20, and we had very little money and no job for either of us. But her dad Dana encouraged us to take our honeymoon anyway and we did.
We went to the Carmel River Inn, a then relatively inexpensive motor court motel in Carmel, California, at a rate of about $15 a night. This is in 1965 dollars, equivalent to about $120 today.
Anne and I had a wonderful honeymoon, but we had not been to the Carmel River Inn since then, nearly 49 years. But last week, while staying in nearby Pebble Beach, we returned and took a lovely, heart rendering trip down memory lane.
The on duty manager was Chris, and after we explained our story to him, he helped us identify the unit in which we stayed (number 31) all those years ago. He then told us the guests to the duplex, numbers 30 and 31 had not arrived yet and handed us the keys to both units so we could relive our journey to 1965.
As we stood in number 31 on this warm and sunny day, it was very much like the weather during our honeymoon.
The unit now has a flat screen TV (we didn't recall it having a TV then), a modern shower to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, and other little charming elements including a back patio/sitting area, nestled among the trees and shrubs along the Carmel River.
We just looked at everything around us and looked at each other and smiled and sighed, as we began reminiscing, our voices filled with joy.
It was so deeply touching, that I later lay awake in bed still engrossed by it then and now. Of course one can never live in the past, and we had a marvelous stay at The Inn at Spanish Bay, where we have returned time and again since 1991.
I'm thankful for Anne, our children, their wives, our grandchildren and all that life has brought us over the years.
But for a little while it was 1965 again, Anne and I were kids with our futures in front of us, as the world seemed to briefly standstill from its hectic pace.
Dick
Here are some additional facts we learned from Chris and from observation: What has long been the Carmel River Inn, opened as a Motor Court in 1934, with little cottages on what in 1965 and today is an asphal entry. Kept building from 1941 - 1962. Today owned by Moonglow Properties of Cambria. Dick Winter is the CEO and he loves landscaping. They have 40 units and a park like setting near the back of the property, which is adjacent to the Carmel River. We paid about $15 a night in 1965, nearly a half century ago, for the unit we believe is no. 31. Today, that unit rents for $115 to $259, depending upon time of year and events taking place in Carmel, which is about 1.5 miles away.
To see the Carmel River Inn http://www.carmelriverinn.com/
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