A tiny, funky cabin in the Oregon Outback. One room with a water closet and kitchenette, and an old Frigidaire mini refrigerator sitting on top of a low table across from the foot of the bed. Poorly sealed doors (the threshold of one having completely fallen off) and ripped window screens (on those windows that actually had screens) gave the flies and other bugs easy access to the inside. And the room was hot with the sun beating in the south- and west-facing windows, and the ceiling fan doing little to move the still air.

This was the start to my surprise birthday weekend getaway that my husband had sweetly planned months in advance. The sad, neglected cabin was just the first surprise that day.