There’s No Place Like Saratoga

When I was in high school, my mother bought me a yellow Ford Escape. Before I ever saw it, I could have sworn I had never seen anyone else with a car like that. Afterwards, I saw yellow Fords everywhere. To me, it’s kind of like when someone tells you, “don’t think about pink elephants,” and then that’s all you can think about. Prior to moving to Saratoga Springs, I’ll be honest, I’ve never heard of the town. When my husband informed me that he received orders to Ballston Spa, I swore he said “Boston” Spa and for the life of me, I couldn’t find it on the map. Yet now, everywhere I go, I hear about Saratoga.

Where am I going with this? This past week I decided to head down to Florida to go see my parents and defrost a bit. Although I love my new home, it was going to be nice to head back to the Sunshine state and get away from the snow.

One of the first nights there, my mother suggested we go to one of her favorite seafood restaurants. Looking in the beverage section on the menu there was Saratoga Springs Bottle water. I didn’t order it because I didn’t see the point of buying something that I could get free within a week. However, I had been at the restaurant before and never noticed it. Now, heading back and after talking about it with my husband, I wish I had bought some.

Later that week, my mother and I were watching Gone with the Wind. No particular reason other then we hadn’t watched it in years and needed a good “chick” flick. Again, Saratoga Springs popped up. During the first few scenes, Scarlett, the heroine, insisted she doesn’t need to lay down for a nap stating, “When I was in Saratoga, I never saw any Yankee girls taking naps.” Once again, there my new home was, and I have watched this movie numerous times since I was five.

Finally, the day before I headed back home, my family and I decided to head to Downtown Disney. Walking along the water, across from it, lies Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Although I had been to Disney several times this last year, had seen the signs, and considered staying there at one point, I never made the connection. The great thing about the hotel, as I realized now, is how they managed to tie in some key features of town: the Grandstand, the Springs, Congress Park, the Carousel.

I almost feel silly now seeing how I should have known about Saratoga Springs. Almost every day while on holiday, my new home seemed to “pop it’s head” into the picture. Each time I got excited and pointed it out to my family telling them more and more about my new home. As I return to New York, leaving the beaches and sun behind, I can’t help but be eager thinking that is no place like home.