87 Motel

On August 28, 2011 Hurricane Irene wracked many towns on the east coast, including Gardiner, New York. O’Day Camp was one of the many homes and businesses creamed by Irene’s wind and flood waters.

We fled our home in Gardiner to the neighboring town of New Paltz, mostly because that was as far as we could go. The New York State Thruway was washed out in several parts, and most local roads were also washed out.

We checked into 87 Motel.

87 Motel is advertised as “Clean, Comfortable, Affordable and Friendly.” I can report it is affordable and friendly.

It does not allow pets, but I’m not sure why. Would pets finish ripping the towel rack out of the tile? Might pets fix the drawers? Suck the ample amount of garbage/debris from the AC? But the staff really is friendly.

87 Motel hosts a fascinating cast of characters. Next door was the Vietnam Vet (that’s what his ball cap and bumper sticker said) who shared his room with a 21 year-old (maybe?) Latino boy who dressed like Michael Jackson on the Thriller album cover.

Every morning in the lobby I chatted with a very, very tall white guy with a long white pony tail who only wore white clothes. His eyes were iceberg blue. He spoke softly and walked with a cane. He was friendly and charming. I'm sure he's a serial killer.

Down at the far end of the low-slung brick establishment lived a mother and her five children. I met at least three other interesting people who also call Motel 87 their home. They were all very nice. Creepy and sad, but nice.

The first three or so days into my stay I felt like I was watching a bizarre Tennessee Williams play whenever I returned to the motel. Then, on my fourth evening there I became horribly aware that some crazy lady with un-washed hair, no makeup and eyes like a mental patient was laughing too long and too loudly at toddlers being chased by Canadian Snow geese at the 87 Motel “pond.”

It was me. Crazy, mud-caked Sandra O’Day.

I was no different from the main cast of characters at 87 Motel, I was just a minor character -- there for only five days.

The clean up continues. No longer at 87 Motel, but still not back at O’Day Camp.