My three months in Phoenix have come and gone and I'm moving on. I loved the time that I spent in Arizona, but lets be honest here...it was 
hot as hell and I was ready to go. Not that I didn't love my time there, because I very much did. However, I'm done with 125 degree days and 100 degree nights. Yes, I know its a "dry heat" as everyone at home so kindly kept reminding me...but it hurts. Yes, I know you don't sweat like you do in Mississippi, but you can literally feel it burning you skin and sucking the life right out of you. But enough complaining for now... Despite the scorchers, I can't say that I haven't looked back--because, I look back often. I had a great job that I loved. I was privaleged to work with incredible nurses that were both knowledgeable and extremely welcoming. I experienced the magnitude of the Grand Canyon and the simplicity of the desert. I spent a weekend in Mexico and rode on a pink chariot through the beatiful red rocks of Sedona. I even drank my way down the Salt River in an intertube. Fun times!
But, in the words of my man Willie..."On the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. Going places that I've never been. Seeing things I may never see again, I just can't wait to get on the road again."
Seattle bound! (Talk about going from one extreme to the other!) Mom flew from Jackson to once again be my co-pilot on the treck to the Pacific North West. We had so much fun!! It was suprisingly a really easy, quick drive. We of coarse made some stops along the way to make it a real road trip.
Day 1: Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. A whoppin 3 hours total driving time! I loved the time that I spent at the canyon and I really wanted my mother to have the opportunity to do the same. It was as spectacular as it was the first time. We got to the canyon rim just before sunset as a storm was rolling in. It was awesome!
Day 2: Phoenix, Az to Page, Az. A whoppin 2.5 total driving time! This was one of my most memorable days that I spent in Arizona...too bad it 
was the last! But, I'm glad that I got to spend it with mom! We started out at Antelope Canyon. It's hard to describe...bear with me. It is an underground slot canyon. The bottom of the canyon is just wide enough to be able to walk through, and top of the canyon at ground level pretty must just has small cracks and holes where light can peep in. So, it is dimly lit by the light beams that come in through the cracks at the top of the canyon. It is so neat!! If you are in the canyon at high noon, you literally see the beams of light hitting the floor of the canyon. I love it! It is a very well kept secret on a Navajo reservation, but you need to find it if you are ever on a tour of the southwest.
Mom was pretty worn out after our morning at the Grand Canyon and mid-day hike through Antelope Canyon, but I told her we had one more 
place to go....she wasn't very happy about it, but she humored me like a good mother should. Horesehoe Bend. It is where the Colorado River flows in a horseshoe shape through the Grand Canyon. We had to hike uphill 0.8 miles to get to the top (I didn't tell mom that until we got there), but it was worth every step. You get to the top of the hill and you really can't see much--looking straight ahead all that you see is desert. But, when you step to the rim of the canyon and look down....it literally took our breath away. My mother screamed in excitement. Really...she was screaming. She called it her Garden of Eden. I couldn't agree more.
Moving right along! This is the Rainbow Bridge and definitely is another one of my favorites. It also is on a Navajo reservation and is extremely sacred to these people. It is quite a task getting to it , but well worth it!
From here to Seattle it was all work and no play...but we had fun. So far, all is well ad I am loving Seattle. Stay tuned...more pics and tales of good times coming soon!
