| As a freelance photographer, I find myself | | | | very chilly for this time of year. I rushed to park |
| traveling to many exotic places all over the world | | | | my car and jumped out to ask the crowd what |
| to take pictures. Recently, I decided to make a | | | | had happened? |
| stop in the laid back Southern City of Greenville, | | | | One man yelled out, "someone burned popcorn in |
| S.C. Being a nature lover, I was attracted to the | | | | their microwave". A hotel employee standing on |
| Waterfalls in the downtown area. | | | | the outside began to mumble, "This doesn't look |
| I checked into a local hotel that was advertised in | | | | too good," then went on to say, "You know six |
| South Carolina's travel coupon book, the ad | | | | people died here by fire and around 11 people |
| boasted of a Grand Opening Special with a hot | | | | were injured in 2004. As he continued to talk I |
| breakfast, free internet, cable and more. The | | | | felt numb inside. Not being from this city but living |
| price was right and it was accessible to the | | | | in another state I didn't have a clue of what |
| downtown area. The room though nicely | | | | happened in the past at this same hotel. It was |
| decorated, with a full refrigerator, microwave and | | | | the most tragic hotel fire in the history of the |
| cabinets had a dark look, even with the lights on. | | | | city. Was the dream I experienced earlier that |
| The drapes had heavy lining which blocked out | | | | day trying to tell me something? Well that night I |
| any sunlight from the outside. This layout is great | | | | didn't put on my night clothes. I laid there in the |
| if you need to get some rest during the day, also | | | | hotel bed in my street clothing unable to sleep, |
| I knew it wouldn't be a problem for me to fall | | | | fearful of the unknown. |
| fast asleep after being tired from driving out of | | | | After, returning home from my trip I decided to |
| the state. | | | | research the facts about this hotel fire. On the |
| While in a deep sleep, I felt totally restless tossing | | | | internet I typed in the name of the hotel in |
| turning and wakening up in a cold sweat after | | | | several of the top search engines. No indication |
| hearing screams in my dreams. I did not | | | | about this hotel fire came up. Nothing until I went |
| understand what prompted this despair that I felt. | | | | to archives online of which is an online version of |
| I have always paid close attention to my dreams, | | | | The Greenville Newspaper. After reading the |
| also keeping a Dreamer's Dictionary for | | | | many headline details of the fire, one headline |
| interpreting them. I didn't know what to make of | | | | indicated, "If they would have had a sprinklers |
| it, just realized I would follow up later. | | | | system in the hotel lives could have been saved". |
| Next, I showered got dressed and went out to | | | | You would think out of respect for the victims |
| one of the upscale downtown restaurants that | | | | they would have changed the name of the hotel |
| had a nice view of the people walking up and | | | | or even had this hotel torn down. It just doesn't |
| down the sidewalk. After a wonderful dinner and | | | | sit well with me to see this hotel treat this |
| a nice walk I decided to return to the hotel. Once | | | | situation as, business as usual. |
| I drove into the hotel parking lot, my heart felt | | | | Some people need to realize the power of the |
| like it skipped a beat after seeing a large fire | | | | Blog, for if I had the opportunity to read |
| truck sitting in the driveway of the hotel entrance. | | | | someone's blog about this hotel in advance, I |
| Some hotel guests were standing on the outside | | | | would have never checked in. |
| with no coats even though the weather was | | | | |