What's Going to Happen to Me?

Mom ready for her talk at
 The Well Red Coyote, 3190 W. Highway 89A - Suite 400in Sedona, Arizona

Archie helping Dad with his morning devotions.

We just returned from an eye-opening trip with my folks to Sedona. I am so blessed that my parents have lived long enough that I have gotten to know them, not only as a mother and father, but also as friends.

We have been on several motor home trips together. The first one was was a previous trip to Arizona, about five years ago, because my mom was participating in a book fair in Prescott. Since we helped them set up, I asked how they were able to do it when we weren’t around. She said someone always noticed two old people struggling with their gear and would come running to help. (Side note to anyone out there that might have helped them out over the years, thanks!) While Mom worked her booth, Mike, Dad and I had a great time checking out nearby sites, sometimes leaving Mom at her table too long, as we were promptly informed on our return. The next day, we made a perilous drive from Prescott to Sedona through Jerome - after which I told my husband, “no one can steer finer.”  Literally, I could touch the sides of buildings when I reached my hand out the window of the motor home. There was also an interesting encounter with a tour bus coming from the other direction - talk about a tight squeeze. Once we arrived at the campground, we enjoyed it so much that we didn't leave.  When we finally headed into Sedona for Mom's next talk and got a look at that landscape, needless to say, we wished we'd ventured out sooner.

There was a trip to Sacramento, just for fun. We checked out the auto and train museums, as well as some of the great restaurants and shops. We stayed at a KOA there and were so impressed with how much nature there was in that urban setting.

Another time, we happened to be in the midwest just as a writers' convention Mom was participating in ended. So, we swung by and picked them up. It was fun riding home together, stopping for a couple of days in Colorado to enjoy the mountains and even a little snow, in the first part of June.

For one of my birthdays, they met us at Lake Nacimiento, memorable because the air conditioner in the motor home broke. My folks live in an area where it is hot, hot, hot in the summer, so they were accustomed to the heat. My husband and I, on the other hand, live on the coast where it rarely gets over 80 and boy, did he whine. (I prefer to suffer in silence and wish those around me would do the same.) Even so, it was a fun trip because we were in the water most of the time. While we were floating in the lake,  Mom and I even got circled by a buzzard. We decided we better move around a little more so he’d know we were still alive - we waved our arms and after looking at us a little closer, he flew off. I also think of Dad cruising by himself across the lake on our PWC (personal water craft) with a big grin on his face as the rest of us motored back to camp in my daughter's boat.

We’ve made some great memories together in the motor home. There is, however, a down side to spending time with my parents at this stage of their lives - a peek into my own future. I have been truly blessed because I remember my mothers’ grandparents (my great-grandparents) and my own grandparents but their physical limitations didn’t mean too much to me at the time, after all, I was young and didn’t really think too much about the aging process.

It’s a different story now. Being closer to 60 than 50, tends to change your perception. My mom is only 19 years older than I am, so my future, their present, is not all that far away, especially if the next 19 years go as fast as my last. My parents are both still bright and articulate but, physically, they are having a hard time getting around. This was really noticeable on the motor home steps - so much so, one of our camping neighbors pulled Mike aside and told him they’d almost had a heart attack watching my mom go into the motor home. Since I had tumbled out of our old motor home once (which, luckily, was built closer to the ground than this one), I laid down the law - they had to hold on to the handle when entering or leaving. They mind pretty good, so I wasn’t too worried about them getting hurt, even though it was scary to watch. I noticed as the week progressed, their agility actually seemed to improve, so maybe the key to being spry into your 80's is to keep RVing. At least, that sounds good to me!

TRIP TO SEDONA

Mom at the Sedona Library.

Just got back from a trip to Sedona, Arizona - a place of jaw-dropping, naturally sculptured landscapes. My mom had two speaking engagements there and she thought it would be fun to make a motor home trip out of it - she was right. 






It took us about 12 hours to get there from our (upper) SoCal home. (I think people in cars can do it in less time and if you don’t need to stop very often.) June can be sweltering in Sedona, but we lucked out, weather was just about perfect. We stayed at Lo Lo Mai Springs Campgroundl in Cornville, just a few miles south of Sedona proper. Mom had her speaking gigs on Tuesday and Saturday, and participated in a friend’s writing group on Thursday, the rest of the time we enjoyed Sedona’s sites and even had a nice visit with a nephew who lives in Prescott and stopped by. We (well, Mom and I, not sure about Dad and Mike) had fun shopping along the stores on Highway 89An, took a Pink Jeep Tourt, and ate a “cowboy” dinnerv. Spent a lot of time driving around in our tow car “gawking” because Sedona is a place where there is plenty to “gawk” at. You can see beautiful “red rock” scenery and natural monumental bluffs as you drive along Highway 179 but we did pull off to see The Chapel

of the Holy Cross­z . On the southern section of   89A, we stopped at Red Rock State Park£. Of course, like just about every trip we take, I’m     hoping to go back to see the things I missed        this time around. Believe it or not, I do research a place before we go to learn about all the “must see” places but once I get, there I always discover something I missed.    

(To read more about the places I mentioned here, see the matching symbol below.)


Archie spent most of his time at the camp ground and as long as he was making friends, he didn’t mind a bit. As usual, he enjoyed his new “home” of the week but the creek running through the camp ground was his favorite location where it didn’t take him long to find golden retriever fans, as you can see.  Then he met other kids at the duck pond; once they found out Archie could “high-five,” they thought he was more interesting than the ducks!

Just so you can see, Archie doesn't just like young girls -  here he buddies up with some older ones:

Notes: l I liked Lo Lo Mai Springs Campground www.lolomai.com), it was well kept, the people (who ran it and fellow campers) were friendly, appreciated animals (wild and domestic), and there were nice camp amenities. The campground has a duck pond with a resident otter (not sure on that, I saw it but not an expert on those kind of things and that’s what another camper told us) and stream running through it with Oak Creek running beside it. One evening walk, in front of our flashlight, we spotted what we think was a porcupine but before we could tell for sure, a skunk approached from our left and we made a hasty retreat. There’s also a nice pool and Jacuzzi but we couldn’t seem to find the time to try it out, unusual for us when the weather is so nice. There are a few items for sale near the camp office (cash only for purchases), but there’s not a big variety, so come fully stocked or prepared to drive a bit to get to a store. Wi-fi is available with a good connection at the club house. (My mom's service did not work at all; mine only worked at the club house - at a certain spot on a certain table.) As for cell phone service, Mom's never could pick up a signal but mine did work if you crossed the road from the motor home. Spotty connections are not an unexpected situation when traveling, especially in more remote areas.) The portion of Oak Creek that is located by the camp ground is truly beautiful. (2 pics) Many campers enjoyed the natural water - some brought tubes, others brought folding chairs to sit in the water. The only negative experience at the camp ground was a neighbor’s rooster that insisted on waking everyone up at 4:22am and a kamikaze bird who spent two early mornings pecking at my bedroom window at first light. (I think he didn’t like his reflection.) Unexpected wake-up calls are part of the RV-ing experience; just wish I could’ve captured that bird on camera.

n Was especially happy to find a Sedona T-shirt made in the USA at Western Trading Post (aka Cheers of Sedona, www.cheersofsedona.com). I don’t usually purchase souvenir t-shirts, but made an exception here. Also enjoyed eating at the Cowboy Club (restaurant, www.cowboyclub.com) where we tried rattlesnake, buffalo and cactus. Had a great waiter, Felix, who helped us make our selections from the menu.
t Thoroughly enjoyed the Pink Jeep Tour (www.pinkjeap.com), which was fun; great scenery was complimented by our driver, Joe, who knew a lot about the area and didn't mind answering our questions. (We took the Coyote Canyon Tour, the easiest one, which had been suggested for my parents.)
vThe cowboy dinner was in Cottonwood at the Blazin' M Ranch (www.blazinm.com). We had been to a cowboy dinner in Colorado a couple of hears ago and while we were there, all I could think of was how much my dad would've enjoyed it. So, here was our chance. Have to admit, when we drove up, I was a little disappointed with the ambiance but the performers/serviers and the food more than made up for it. I wasn't expecting the flavorful cold corn salad that had so many fresh tasting ingredients, ribs that practically fel off the bone, a BBQ sauce that was some of the best I've tasted, as well as chicken, baked beans and "thrown" biscuits. Everyone who worked there seemed to really get into the spirit of the show, even the younger ones who acted interested in the guests, interacted and didn't seem bored with their work. Once the show got under way, I was surprised to see many of the perfomers had been involved in other chores beforehand. I'm not usually that crazy about Western music, but this group was harmonious and their sound was smooth. They had special affects with the "Ghost Rider" number and a comic who added just the right touch of corniness - you couldn't help but laugh.
zThe Chapel of the Holy Cross (www.chapeloftheholycross.com) is a small but serene Catholic chapel (very ecumenical) set in the the scenic vista in such a way that it almost seems to be a part of the natural landscape. There are some natural rock formations in back of the chapel, one even looks like the Madonna and child.
^.£ We spent one afternoon at Red Rock State Park which was beautiful. There are lots of hiking trails but we didn’t try them out this time around. We did check out their display of wildlife and flora/fauna below the gift shop and watched the DVD in their little theater. My dad enjoyed it so much, he bought a copy. (Note: No dogs allowed in this park; very fragile ecosystem.)

We also found an interesting little store, Desert Market, at the end of Paige Springs Road (1160 South) in Cornville. It had some health food and local beer and wine and the clerk there was happy to answer my questions about their honey.

In case you are planning a trip to Sedona, also want to suggest a stop at Tlaquepaque. It is worth visiting just to see how it was designed and built around the natural landscape that was already there.