We wandered in the sand dunes of the Southern California desert
We saw the Saguaro cactus flowers during their once a year two-week bloom
and watched the fruit bats feeding on their nectar
We soared above the mountains in the wicker basket of a hot air balloon
We soaked in the heated waters of a natural mineral hot spring
We got pelted by hail during the same soak
We walked through history in the Puebloan villages of Mesa Verde
We cheered on our favorite cowboys and cowgirls at a real Southwestern rodeo
We stood in four states at the same time at Four Corners,
Utah/Arizona/Colorado/New Mexico
We stood next to a John Deere harvester with wheels bigger than Gene
We tracked dust devils
We swam in the Pacific Ocean
We hiked a mile down into the Grand Canyon
We bicycled on Route 66
We crossed the Rocky Mountains
We drove right through the end of a rainbow (sadly, no pot of gold awaited us)
We observed the graceful flight of rescued-from-the-brink-of-extinction
California Condors
We got sworn in as Junior Rangers in two National Parks
We marveled at the beauty of Colorado’s Treasure Falls
We fed wild chipmunks right from our hands
We basked in a glorious sunset over the Grand Canyon
We laughed through the familiarity of a real country auction
We ate Navajo tacos, fry bread, vegetarian burgers, amazing homemade pies,
and melt-in-your-mouth ribs from the back of a truck
We rooted on the contestants in a boot race
We got sprayed with water from a fire truck
We wondered at the magic of a double rainbow from the balcony of our cabin
We had a close encounter with an elk
We reunited with an old friend and met a newly found relation
We stayed in cheap motels, funky inns, National Park lodges, historic stage
stops, and cabins
We met expatriot New Yorkers, New Jerseyites, Californians, Texans,
Floridians, Australians, and Canadians
And we’re only one quarter of the way through this adventure!
For Gene's very different
view of the same journey, check out his blog at www.ConnorsArmy.blogspot.com
To learn more about
Connor's Army go to www.ConnorsArmy.org
To see exactly why we're
doing this go to www.SunriseDayCamp.org
To make a tax deductible
donation go to https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=1809&id=1056
Showing posts with label Navajo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Navajo. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
AS AMERICAN AS ...
No, we didn’t have apple pie, but we did sit on the curb and watch a
parade. Granted it was a very short
parade, maybe 10 floats and no bands; but it was enthusiastic and it was competitive.
Most of the floats were celebrating the 100th anniversary of Arizona’s statehood, and a good majority of them included squirting water. No, not squirting. That implies the cute little spray of water from an old-fashioned water pistol. This was more spraying water, even gushing water. Especially when it came from the fire trucks. It was amusing to watch the adults step back from the curb while all the kids ran into the street begging to be soaked.
But this wasn’t the slice of Americana that most touched me. It was what happened after the parade when the entire town – along with the more intrepid tourists – threw a party. And what a party it was!
A double tent had been raised in the field behind the reviewing stand and the sounds of a rockin’ band blasted from it the minute the parade ended. We wandered around the field trying to choose our lunch from an array of stands selling Navajo tacos, hot dogs, and, of course, that Southwestern staple, barbeque.
In the meantime, the kids knocked down cans with balls, threw beanbags into the holes in a handmade target, and each won a heat of the sack race. I knew the woman running the race was a mom when she turned to me during the third run and said, “The other two have trophies already, right?” Each time I look at the three cheap thumbs-up trophies now residing in my front seat cup holders, I send her a little thought of gratitude for her sensitivity in understanding how sibling rivalry that can intensify when you’re living in a minivan for two months.
Probably the best part, though – aside from the delectable authentic barbeque – was the equally authentic auction where everyone knew everyone else and we heard exchanges like:
Auctioneer: Forty, forty, do I hear fifty? Fifty, fifty, I have fifty. Karen is bidding against you, Darla, but her husband doesn’t look so happy about it.
Darla’s husband: Keep bidding, Karen.
Auctioneer: You heard him, Karen.
Once the auction and all its friendly outbidding ended, the band kicked it up and we rocked out while everyone shared the dripping slices left over from the watermelon eating contest.
It wasn’t the picture perfect Norman Rockwell's New England bunting-draped parade and fireworks we're used to on the Fourth of July. In fact, the fire danger in this part of the country is extreme so fireworks are banned all over the southwest.
Instead it was the open heart of America celebrating itself and taking in the strangers in its midst in much the same way it has for generations. And I’m so glad my children got to experience it.
For Gene's very different view of the same journey, check out his blog at www.ConnorsArmy.blogspot.com
To learn more about Connor's Army go to www.ConnorsArmy.org
To see exactly why we're doing this go to www.SunriseDayCamp.org
To make a tax deductible donation go to https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=1809&id=1056
Most of the floats were celebrating the 100th anniversary of Arizona’s statehood, and a good majority of them included squirting water. No, not squirting. That implies the cute little spray of water from an old-fashioned water pistol. This was more spraying water, even gushing water. Especially when it came from the fire trucks. It was amusing to watch the adults step back from the curb while all the kids ran into the street begging to be soaked.
But this wasn’t the slice of Americana that most touched me. It was what happened after the parade when the entire town – along with the more intrepid tourists – threw a party. And what a party it was!
A double tent had been raised in the field behind the reviewing stand and the sounds of a rockin’ band blasted from it the minute the parade ended. We wandered around the field trying to choose our lunch from an array of stands selling Navajo tacos, hot dogs, and, of course, that Southwestern staple, barbeque.
In the meantime, the kids knocked down cans with balls, threw beanbags into the holes in a handmade target, and each won a heat of the sack race. I knew the woman running the race was a mom when she turned to me during the third run and said, “The other two have trophies already, right?” Each time I look at the three cheap thumbs-up trophies now residing in my front seat cup holders, I send her a little thought of gratitude for her sensitivity in understanding how sibling rivalry that can intensify when you’re living in a minivan for two months.
Probably the best part, though – aside from the delectable authentic barbeque – was the equally authentic auction where everyone knew everyone else and we heard exchanges like:
Auctioneer: Forty, forty, do I hear fifty? Fifty, fifty, I have fifty. Karen is bidding against you, Darla, but her husband doesn’t look so happy about it.
Darla’s husband: Keep bidding, Karen.
Auctioneer: You heard him, Karen.
Once the auction and all its friendly outbidding ended, the band kicked it up and we rocked out while everyone shared the dripping slices left over from the watermelon eating contest.
It wasn’t the picture perfect Norman Rockwell's New England bunting-draped parade and fireworks we're used to on the Fourth of July. In fact, the fire danger in this part of the country is extreme so fireworks are banned all over the southwest.
Instead it was the open heart of America celebrating itself and taking in the strangers in its midst in much the same way it has for generations. And I’m so glad my children got to experience it.
For Gene's very different view of the same journey, check out his blog at www.ConnorsArmy.blogspot.com
To learn more about Connor's Army go to www.ConnorsArmy.org
To see exactly why we're doing this go to www.SunriseDayCamp.org
To make a tax deductible donation go to https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=1809&id=1056
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