Arizona Visit 2012

My trip last weekend to Arizona was a quick, unplanned one. Rock's memorial service was very nice, and, for a change, not one where I was constantly wiping my eyes. Not that I wasn't sad he was gone - I miss him, to be sure. But the tone was so in keeping with Rock's personality that I couldn't help but think how pleased he'd be. His son, Jeff, told stories and related memories that kept us chuckling. He captured Rock's whole being, and we were all nodding our heads in agreement and remembering fond tales of our own.

Funny how it's weddings and funerals that keep you going back to a place you once lived. And those events bring other loved ones and friends together, too. Rock's service was like a mini American Greetings reunion. Ron, Ray, Bob, Otto, and I were all there to pay our respects and to catch up with each other, too. It was like a deja vu experience to have us all in one place again. Only Ron and Otto are still hard at it... 

I visited with Nancy a bit the day before, and after the service, at her home. I think she's still in shock. Hugs to her...

While in town, I also made time to get together with other friends I have too little time to see. While birthday shopping for Emily, I met Fannie and Tony for lunch at Wildflower Cafe. That evening, I arranged  to meet friends for dinner/drinks at Garlic and Shots, and was thrilled to be able to visit with Norma, Barry, Mark, and Patti. So great to catch up with everyone's lives even though we live so far apart. Good food and good friends are a great combination. Elaine was out of town until the day I was leaving, but I was able to squeeze a few minutes in with her en route back to the airport Monday afternoon. So happy I got to see so many people!

I am grateful that I had so much time with Susan and Terry, who graciously offered their home to me as my own personal B&B while I was in town. Thanks, you two!

Although it was a sad occasion that brought me to Phoenix, but it was, without a doubt, a beautiful time to visit. Everything, it seemed, was in bloom. En route to the car rental center from the airport, I was awed by the beauty of the Palo Verde trees, evidenced in other areas around town, as well.



Then, lo and behold, I saw a saguaro cactus in full bloom. Now, I associate blooming saguaros with Mother's Day; seems to me I remember them blooming around mid-May. So I was surprised and delighted to see them blooming in late April. Determined to get a picture, I started searching in town - because, of course, I hadn't had my camera available when I needed it.

But luck was not with me. I found plenty of saguaros budded out...



... but none in bloom where I could stop for a photo. In desperation, I tried to capture an image in my side view mirror while at a stop light.

 

Finally, I saw a pair blooming in a church parking lot, and was able to get a picture or two.



My personal favorite desert plant is the ocotillo. Guess what? They were blooming, too!



Then, there was jacaranda, bougainvillaea (vine and bush), oleander, and jasmine.




Traditional yuccas and the more delicate red yuccas were stunning.

 

The beauty of the flora helped to offset the reality of 100+ degree temps - which I am not used to any more. Wouldn't you know I'd arrive on the first 100 degree day of the year? Luckily, it is still early enough in the season that it still cools off at night to a comfortable temp. And the sunsets are still spectacular - just like I remember!

 

Arizona Trip 2010

Well, it's been nearly seven weeks since our trip to Arizona, and I'm just now getting around to blogging about it. Life does get in the way sometimes...

This trip was a pretty big deal. 1) Sarah and Emily haven't been to too many weddings. Here we were going off to Arizona to attend one. That's pretty epic. 2) The girls and I were taking off on our own, without Larry. That's rare.  3) They were missing two days of school. I NEVER pull them out of school. For Sarah, this was especially huge. Junior year has turned into a very challenging time, and she had some big assignments looming... She was nervous and a bit concerned about getting behind.

Near crisis: On the MAX train en route to the airport, Sarah realized she'd forgotten to pack her power cord for the laptop. The computer made the trip with us so she could try to keep up with homework while we were gone. Not a good way to start our trip. No power cord = no computer. Good thing they have those kiosks at the airport selling electronic accessories for a fortune. Crisis averted. (By this time price was no object. We simply had to have a way for her to access her computer...)

Arriving in Phoenix was like returning to familiar territory to me. It's so easy to get around there with the grid layout of the streets. I was proud of myself and the ease with which I drove our cute little rental car (see below) from one location to another. A map was hardly necessary...



For Sarah and Emily, though, it was like a foreign land. They remember so little about their early lives there. After all, Emily was only 2 when we moved. Sarah, being five at the time, has some sketchy memories, but not much. I took them to the neighborhoods we lived in when each was born, and showed them our former homes. Both remembered our final home to some degree, and Emily remembered playing with the digger at the neighborhood park. I showed Sarah her preschool, and looked for the school where I used to teach, but it is no longer in existence. They even saw the hospital where they were born.

We went to downtown Tempe where they were impressed with the upside-down pyramid that is City Hall.




I also checked on the performing arts building that I helped design when I was President of Tempe Little Theatre. It is still in use as offices for TLT and Childsplay.



 Both girls were amazed at the saguaro cacti just growing along roadways and in people's yards. We had to stop and get a picture with them alongside one of these behemoths. This one is probably 200 or so years old.



I found a killer deal on a room at a Days Inn near the site of Kerri's wedding - the reason for our trip. It was in a great location for getting around, and was only $52 a night. The room was on the ground floor and opened out onto the pool, mere steps from us! I especially enjoyed the hot tub. What a find!



Emily made herself at home and had a relaxing time. Sarah, not so much. The computer became her constant companion.



Kerri's wedding was beautiful. She was a beaming bride, and she and Bob looked so comfortable together. Their colors were black and white with a touch of red. The wedding was formal, but not stiff, if that makes sense. It was held in a place in downtown Mesa that specializes in weddings. The building has been converted into two long narrow spaces. The ceremony was held in one side. The front part of that space was set up with chairs and an archway behind the bride and groom. It was lovely. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were served afterward in the rear while pictures were taken of the wedding party in the front. Then everyone moved to the other side of the building where there was a buffet, tables, and a dance floor.

Kerri and Bob chose a unique theme for the reception: The Movies. Tables were named for different favorite movies of theirs. Everything from The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz to Star Wars and Pee Wee's Big Adventure. The seating chart for each table was detailed on a filmstrip. We were seated at Indiana Jones along with much of the groom's family. Our cue to go to the buffet table was when the theme song to our movie was played. Very clever. Good food, lots of dancing, beautiful cake, friendly people. We felt so special to be included in this event. Thanks, Bob and Kerri!





Sarah and Emily looked so dressed up and beautiful. Emily even matched the theme of the wedding. Of course, they had to get a little silly, too...

 


We had enough time during this trip to see some old friends. We stopped by Rock and Nancy's house and had a nice visit with them. They both look great. I showed Rock how to access this blog on his computer. Hope he gets to see this post!



The wedding was Friday night. On Saturday, Kerri's mom invited us to their home for brunch. That night, Norma and Roger held a party for us at their home in Gilbert. We invited a bunch of friends, and everyone brought an appetizer to share. What a great way to get to see all our former Arizona buds!

Susan and Terry Ponder

Barry and Lisa Siegwart

Patti Pompa

Sharon Gonwa and Norma

Bob and Younda Mandelbaum

 Joyce with Norma

Susan brought Emily a tea cozy which soon became a hat! (I suppose with no other kids there, they had to find some way to have fun...)



Thanks, Norma and Roger, for sharing your home with us!

The trip home was uneventful, but we were wiped out. It took Sarah weeks to finally feel caught up from the time she lost. Was it worth it? Totally! Will we do it again any time soon? Not if we can help it!