On the Salt River

A few days ago I was talking to a co-worker and he brought to mind memories I have of days spent tubing the Salt River with friends. I only went a handful of times but each trip was a mini-vacation and good times and good memories. Two in particular come to mind that I want to remember. 

One trip was the day after a massive monsoon storm. The evening before there had been a tremendous storm, lots of rain, major wind. I remember the power went out when I was working at KFC. It was an odd experience because the power went out but only in half the store. We figured that it must be that the store was on two power grids because on the side of the store with power the surrounding buildings had power but the side without power the buildings surrounding were also dark. The trip home was an experience, downed tree branches and road closures making getting to my home a challenge. I wondered as I headed home if my friends and I would actually be able to get to the river as planned. 

The morning of our trip the skies were clear and the temperatures were already soaring. We decided to go forward with plans to head to the Salt River and see if we could go, we didn't know if it would be open but figured we could go do something else if the river wasn't open for tubing. So we grabbed lunch supplies and coffee and headed on out. Luckily the river was open and the water was MOVING! We loaded our cooler, paid our rental fees and grabbed the shuttle down to the river.

That day on the water was amazing. The water levels were really high and we were really moving. It was a relaxing day, watching the landscape zip by and float with the current. We had a mini-marshmallow war drank water and make jokes as we floated along. At one moment we all had to dig in to fight the current. I used my whole body to lean into the current so I would stay in place and not float away from the rest of the group. We all were watching and waiting as one girl of the group was caught in a whirlpool she was unable to get out of. One member tried to move toward her to help pull her out. It would have been challenging enough but the amount of laughter staying put and moving against the current was even harder. This day went by so fast and we were at the end in such a short time about half the time that it normally would have been. It was such a fun day full of adventure and laughter.

The other trip was a typical summer day in Phoenix. Hot, sunny, and slightly humid. We loaded up the cars and coolers and headed out to the river. That day was very different from the last journey (the one after the monsoon). This day the river moved much slower and the water level was so low in comparison to my last experience. It was relaxing again, we enjoyed ourselves as we floated down the water. The water was cool in opposition to the hot sun and felt good to get out and cool down when needed. The entertainment portion of this trip was going into the rapids. This usually meant shallow water and in some cases we touched bottom on the rivers. So the person in front at the rapids would shout back to the group "butts up!" and we knew that the raft would keep moving but you'd best pick your bottom up or it would be dragged along the dirt and rocks (and goodness knows what else) of the riverbed. That day was a long day but so much fun. 

I'll never forget the memory of the day after monsoon tubing experience versus the "butts up!" experience of my second trip out. So different but similar at the same time. Both were fun in their own ways and memories I love to remember. 

Sunny days and sunny beaches

With the promise of summer not too far away I find myself thinking to the times my friends and I would head to California for a day of ocean, beach, and fun. There were times I would go and grossly under use sunblock to protect my extremely fair skin from sunburn. One such fateful trip my friends and I all spent the day on the beach, didn't use near enough sunscreen and came back from vacation with lobster colored skin. Those weren't pleasant experiences. Don't get me wrong, the water was great, the beach was beautiful and the sun felt so good with the cool California breezes. After a day on the water though, we were in pain. I remember after this one time having a sunburn so bad that I had to wear pajama bottoms for the drive home as my jean shorts hurt too much. My entire group spend the majority of time in the car, shoes kicked off on the drive because our feet were sunburned too.

I learned from that trip, I wasn't going to experience that level of pain again. The next trips to the beach, I slathered sunscreen with high SPF on a regular basis. When my friends decided to lay in the sun for a tan, I laid one towel beneath me and put another over me like a blanket. I still enjoyed the warmth of the sun but, dang it, I wasn't getting another sunburn. Not if I could help it! They laughed at me, but I didn't get burnt.

I still have longing to go back and spend time on the beach or on the water. I love being on the water or even near it. Seeing the cool water rush at the shore, feeling the warm sand between my toes. Crossing closer to the water and feeling the sudden shift in temperature of the sand as it goes from dry and warm to wet and cool. I love standing ankle deep in water and feeling the pull of the tide as it washes the sand out from under my feet. I love standing, waiting as waves rush in and out, taking a little more sand each time until I can't keep my footing any longer. I find a new spot, stand in the water, and wait. This hasn't changed but now instead of lightly coated sunscreen and no hat as I enjoy the water, I now stand hat firmly in place on my head, a coat of SPF 50 on my skin as I watch and wait for the sand to wash out from under my feet.

A New Journey

Four years ago today I began a whole new type of journey. This wasn't a vacation but rather a move to a new city. This new home had been a vacation destination of mine for a few years and one I tended to escape to when I needed to get out of town. Now here I was, moving to that city. This was a new journey for me. Something I'd never done before. A new city, no job yet, and not really holding a plan for the future beyond the next year. This was a trip into the unknown.

As I headed up the highway with my mom I reflected back on some of the trips I taken to what would now become my home. I thought back to the first time I "ran away" from home, for an overnight trip. It was a moment of desperation, a need just to get away. I recalled the various Thanksgiving vacation trips I'd spent in rental places or hotels around town and how I'd explored the town and neighboring small cities. I also recalled how much I loved coming up with my family to visit my grandparents when I was a girl. This new home was a familiar and yet unfamiliar destination. I didn't know what the future would hold, I didn't know if I'd be moving back down after my year was up. All I knew was that this new journey, a new chapter in my life had just begun.

Here I am four years later, 34 days from completing my master's degree program. Counting down to graduation and finding that, once again, I'm on the precipice of a brand new journey. Another step into the unknown. What does the future hold? Will another city be in my future or will I stay where I am now? Only time will tell..I only hope that fate will be kind.

Rainy misty day

Days like today take me back to the days of Ireland where we spent many days in a misty rain. Soft weather is what days like today is called (at least in Ireland). It reminds me of the misty rain that surrounded mom and I as we toured Hook Lighthouse. That same misty rain followed us as we climbed through an old ruin, fascinated by the old grey stone covered with a fine green moss while wild greens grew unchecked inside the open top of one building. And still the same mist surrounded us in the Kilmokea tea garden adding an air of romanticism to the beauty of the gardens.

Mist filled the air with mysticism in Waterford in the early morning as we began our day. We watched through the window as schoolkids in Killarney disappeared into the mist as they headed out to catch their bus. It was another misty rainy day on Inis Mohr as we bounced along in a horse drawn cart back from the amazing views of the cliffs toward our hotel.

Misty rainy days like today make me think of the wonders of the views, the amazement and enchantment I experienced from all the beautiful places we visited. One major difference from today and those lovely memories though, Prescott in February is much colder than those September days in Ireland.

Never Ending Day...or Night

Here is was..Las Vegas. The end of a week long road trip, the end of a seven hour day of driving but here I was, finally, in Vegas. I was excited to be here. My friend Kris had met up with me and together we Uber'ed to the strip for dinner and all the touristy trappings. Dinner at the Wicked Spoon was fantastic but it was EXPENSIVE!! We were able to enjoy a tapas style buffet with all kinds of yummy dishes from many different ethnicities. After dinner we wandered the hotel/casino the Cosmopolitan. It was amazing, knowing it was nearing 9 or 10 at night and yet the amount of people was just as crazy as it might have been in the middle of the day. I always heard that famous line of "the city that never sleeps." I can see why it would fit so well.

I spent a short time enchanted by a bar designed to look like it sat in the center of a chandelier. I laughed at the storefront of "Stitches" where a line of old fashioned sewing machines covered the front windows.

Finally we made our way outside and I goggled at the amount of traffic, lights, and people. So many people!! We made our way to the Bellagio and I spend a happy moment watching the fountain dance to "In the Mood." We made our way inside and found a Tiffany and Co. The jewelry inside was so dazzling but I knew I couldn't afford to buy any. I just wanted to say I'd been inside a Tiffany's so I approached the stern looking, intimidating security guard. I asked for permission and said I just wanted to say I'd been in a Tiffany's at least once in my life even if I never would own a piece of jewelry of my own. His stern appearance softened and he smiled, softly laughing, telling me to come on inside and look around. I drooled over the beautiful jewelry and smiled at the sharply dressed staff who stayed in their respective areas. Even knowing that my friend and I wouldn't be purchasing anything they offered assistance and answered questions. As I left I thanks the guard and wished him a good night. He smiled back and wished me a good night as well.

Next up was Paris at Las Vegas. I stared up at the pretend Eiffel Tour and drooled over the pretend Arc du Triumph, wishing desperately that I would one day see the real thing. Inside I was amazed, it was so busy, stores all along the "road" because going inside was like stepping outside onto a street of shops somewhere in Paris. The ceiling was even painted a sky blue with clouds and was lit. I felt like it was still daytime. Eventually we moved along from Paris to the Venetian but had to cross in and out of several casino/hotels. The movement from nighttime to false daytime as we moved inside and outside was disorienting. I had lost all track of time. Finally making it to the Venetian, I experienced a similar view as the Paris at Las Vegas but less ornate and with a "river" with Gondola's in the river. I was enchanted by this experience.

After wandering for a while my feet began to tire and my head began to swirl with exhaustion from the length of the day. Glancing at my watch, I was stunned to see it had crossed past midnight. Kris and I agreed it was time to call it a night. We grabbed a taxi and I watched as we exited the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip and headed back to my hotel. That night after bidding goodnight to Kris, I crawled into my bed, head swirling from the memories I had built. What seemed like days of experiences had all been crammed into one evening. I smiled as I drifted off to sleep. I would definitely come back, but next time with more than one evening to enjoy the experience...and perhaps with a little money saved for a small piece of jewelry from Tiffany's.

Ireland Continues

Today as I work on my Ireland Memoir a little more I thought I might share another little piece of my story with everyone today. I hope you like it...once again unedited and a little messy.

September 14, 2013

(a.k.a. packing day)

The rain patters softly outside, the air cool on my skin but sweat from the effort I'm exerting still beats on my face. I push boxes out of the way in my storage area and dig out my suit cases. The old ones I've had a while, and one massive new suit case. This suit case was one I bought specially for my three week trek to Ireland. It wasn't a joke suit case, this was a suit case to be reckoned with. Purple in color and standing to my hips in height this suit case was like another member of the party. Seriously, this suit case was big, I could have curled up in this bag and taken a nap it was so big, except the metal handle bars running on the inside of the bag might be a little uncomfortable to lie on. This would be a bag that could double as a chair when standing up, a coffee table when laid on its side, and a foot stool when laid flat.  Formidable as it was, I wondered if I'd be able to get everything I needed into this bag for the three weeks I was going.

Finally successful in freeing my luggage, I roll them across the patio and into my bedroom. Music from Flogging Molly blares from my small CD player, a nod to the Irish music I would hopefully hear quite a bit while overseas. I heft my massive suitcase onto the bed and mentally go through my checklist of items to pack. Then going to my closet I start to pull what I want to pack and toss it on the bed. I do the same with my dresser until I have a mountain of clothing, underwear, and pajamas on my bed next to the suit case. I pause and hit the bathroom and pack my toiletries in the five zipper pouches that will serve as my bathroom for the next month and shove the pouches into a smallish bag that will take up a corner of the purple behemoth on my bed. After shoving the bathroom bag into the larger case, I sort through the mountain of clothes on the bed. I eliminate items, fold the ones that make the cut and start to fill my case. Then the agony of deciding on shoes, I go over my shoe options and finally narrow down to three pair. My cross trainers for the days of walking ahead, a pair of boots (for the many rainy days I was sure to see), and slippers I could wear at night. The boots and slippers are shoved into the bag, my sneakers stay out to wear on the journey. Finally finished packing, I lower the suitcase to the floor, nearly throwing my back out in the process.

Finn, my little dog, begins to dance around me as I pack his belongings to go. He's coming down to Phoenix with me but will sadly be left there with a friend. After I have everything I need for my trip, and for my dog placed by the front door, I put together a small bag, for the next two days so I don't have to continuously dig in the large bag. Then I put the unused luggage back into storage and lock it up. I tidy up my apartment and make sure everything is in its place. I have spent the last week ruthlessly cleaning every nook and cranny of this place. No way was any bug or creature going to squat in my apartment while I was gone. I was making sure of that! T-minus 15 hours before I headed to Phoenix! What a great night.

New Year's Travels

Tonight I plan to lay low and relax cuddling with my dog. I know there are many out there that have taken special trips to enjoy the New Year's celebration. Perhaps you took a trip to a ski resort. Maybe a trip to surprise that special someone. Maybe a life long dream of standing in Times Square just to watch the ball drop with countless others.

Some of those things I hope to get to do but tonight I'm content to be home while I bid farewell to 2016. This coming year I don't know what holds in store for me. I hope to finish my degree and graduate this May. There is so much more that I hope will happen but can't help but wonder where I'll be next year. Will I take a major trip? Will I get a dream job teaching? Will I finally finish a book and dig in on getting published? Will I finally get lucky in love? Will I move to Ireland? Who knows?

I can only live my best life and hope that we will arrive to the end of 2017 safe, healthy, and happy.

Happy New Year to everyone!