Here & Back Again

This is a picture that Sunni took of me at Shoshone Point last year. We walked the 1 mile plus to watch the sun rise . How I long to be able to hike again. I am getting better slowly. My legs are finally stronger than they have been since my ordeal at being in ICU at Flagstaff Medical Center.

I do hope that in time I will be able to go back again and see the sun rise at this beautiful point.I think of how far I have come in the last 4 weeks. I find it amazing that I have only been out of the hospital that short of time.

The fund raiser they did for me here at the Grand Canyon Park, made me more aware of the small community we have here and how in time of need they are there to support you, whether if they know you or not. You don't find that in today's world.So for me it was very touching to my heart. I am forever grateful for the help I have received from the people here.

I heard a story the other day, a friend I don't see often, when he heard that the fund raiser was for me, he gave his last dollar to donate to the fund. He didn't want a raffle ticket, he just wanted to give something to the fund to help me.So as I said, I have seen so much kindness, helpful ,spiritual people here that it gives the heart something to think about. I found a place with friends put you before the dollar... a rare treasure to be found in today's world.

So, I titled this Here & Back Again, because I have made a spiritual journey , not only when I was in a coma for 2 1/2 weeks, but even now I am seeing the world with new eyes, with a new heart, and no matter what may come my way in the future. I know I have friends I can depend on Thu thick & thin. And that is another rare gift that one doesn't always find.

So to all those people, I will be forever grateful that you have come into my life,even if only for a short while. Your acts of kindness will never be forgotten.

I am Home Again

Hi Everyone, After being in the Hospital a month, I can came on the 27th of Dec. It sure felt good to be out & back in the small room at the dorm. I never knew I was that sick when I went to the clinic on Nov 28th, as they rushed around trying to get an IV going in my arms. They got 2 of them going & before I know it I am being taken to Flagstaff Hospital by helicopter! I always wanted to ride in one, but this was not the way I thought it would be. I Don;t remember much of the first 2 1/2 weeks in the ICU unit. Sunni did take a picture of me, but after I saw it, my first thought was.. Is that really me? It was scary looking to me when I looked at picture, I can't imagine what it looked like if you had come to visit me. I don't remember seeing allot of you who did come to see me. I do remember my 3boys & sister being there & thinking wow, someone must be really sick for them to all be here, not realizing it was me that was so sick. I was in a coma for almost 2 weeks, & I do have a few profound things that someday I hope to write more about. I realized the creator still has something for me to do.. which is why i came back. The coming back was the hardest thing I have ever done.. Jason, had given me a blue penguin bird,which I saw first thing in the morning & it was the last thing I looked at night. I started calling it the "Blue Bird of Happiness " this bird ended up giving me the courage to get up every morning & do whatever I could to get better. When I finally got out of ICU & into a room I made sure I could see this Blue bird. I still have a long way to go in my recovery, but when I think of where I was just a few weeks ago, I have come a long way. I think now I am more aware of how grand life can be.I believe I have learned allot thou this experience . I know I have a few things I need to draw & write about , but right now when i think about them or try to talk about them, tears come to my eyes, because the thoughts are so moving to me ,so close to me,I just think I need more time to get the thoughts in order. It is very hard to cry with oxygen being blown up your nose because your lungs aren't strong enough to get what you need from the air. Well I hate to say it but it is time for to lay back down. I listen to the body & when it says I am sleepy I listen & so OK, lets go rest now. thank you to all those who came to visit me while in the hospital &those that have helped since I have been home. I have been truly blessed with great friends & family.

Opening of Hermit's Rest Road

It was great to see the road finally open after being closed since March. They have repaved the road, fit the trails in some spots & have added a new 3 mile trail.
I was at the opening ceromonies, they gave out a special pin for those that were there. Only 250 were made! NPS had 2 of the 3 horses there, so it was nice to see them riding around.
Today I am taking a break,well,sortof, I am going to start an art project. I have plans to start to work on the book I started when I first got here. I can't beleive I have been here 1 1/2 years!
Time moves on ,it seems to go faster as we get older. I have yet to met the "cowboy" of my dreams out here! But one never knows what is around the corner ,who knows maybe I'll met him tomorrow. Life is always full of surprises!

First Snow at the Grand Canyon

This is what we all woke up to this morning on Nov.10,2008. It had snowed in the night.

It sured looked pretty out there with all the white "stuff" on all the trees. A peaceful feeling

comes to mind as I look at the beauty here at the canyon.

It was so quiet this morning when I went out to take these few photos of the snow...Some time today the wind is to pick up & I am sure blow all the snow off the trees. In the mean time,it is quiet, peaceful, & beautiful . Last year first snow came on Dec 1, I wonder if this means we have along winter ahead?

the Ghost fo the Canyon

The Ghosts of the Canyon
By Brenda Dewey
As the harvest moon rises over the Canyon,
With twinkling stars all around.
A lonely Witch flies in it’s warm light.
She is getting ready to cast her spell on this night.
As she waits, eyes of yellow, red and green with
Gleaming, Scary smiles are watching her
From the Shadows in the Canyon of time.
Slowly she says the magick words…
“Come, Come, join the revel, lets have some fun!
Lets scare the people in the village below”
Slowly the ghosts come flying over the Canyon wall,
Flying all around the hotels on the trails of time.
Some go to the El Tovar, for they love music, so
They head to the piano room on the second floor.
Soon the eerie, scary music can be heard,
As more ghosts come to join the jubilee,
They sign & dance, scaring all the guests who are there to see.
They bring out pumpkins to carve out scary & silly faces,
And light them with candles, so they have lanterns to see by.
The ringtail’s fangs and eyes glow in the night
As they watch the ghosts from the rafters high above,
For they know this will only last this one night.
When the ghosts of the Canyon visit the hotels on the rim to cause such fright.
As the dawn breaks, the ghosts slowly leave
And go back into the Canyon of time.
All that is left, from their passing, are all the pumpkins they carved
For their lanterns, burned out in the shadows of time.
The Witch flies away, knowing the revel is done,
The pumpkins left behind, so guests will know the
Ghosts of the Canyon
Were really here this time.
So, if you hear scary, eerie music, coming from the hotels along the
Rim this Halloween
It is just the
Ghosts of the Canyon
Having a good time
And
To wish you all
A Happy Halloween

Halloween 2008 at the Grand Canyon

Happy New Year !! Everyone

We can;t use candles up here at the Grand Canyon ,so I used the next best thing ! A green glowstick. this guy sat outside the dorm door.

I enjoyed Halloween this year, I made alot of things to pass out to all my friends & co-workers. This is my favorite time of year, and there are some who call me the "Queen of Halloween" but few know the reason why I celebrate Halloween & enjoy the season.

I have always loved Halloween as a child,as a teenager I created a few tricks back in the 60's & early 70's. toliet paper the trees in the park in the center of town,smash pumpkins, the egg throwing contest at cars passing by, soaping of windows- you know the normal stuff teenagers did back then.

Then as I got older, married and had children of my own, we had the scare of tainted candy, ravor blades in apples, and what used to be a fun time for kids turned into parents checking all the candy to make sure that the wrapper was still all sealed. If they got apples, they were throw out. So, it got to the point where you took your children to people you knew. No more sackful of candy (like I used to get trick or treating) and the local firehouse had a Halloween Parade & Party for the children of the town.

Then as time passed by, children got older, Halloween once again became a little safer for the door to door trick or treating. It wasn;t an important day or night for me back then. It became important to me slowly,it was, My mother died suddenly on October 24, actually 24 years ago. I sometimes can;t beleive that so much time has passed, since her passing on to other side. She was put to rest in Vermont on october 30, the day before Halloween. I don;t remember much about the Halloween, I only know her spirit came to me on that first Halloween Eve,& she let me know that she was ok, in this new land she had entered, that there is "life" after death and that this time of year it was easier for loved ones to call out to those still on the "living" side. So, I started looking into the meanings of Halloween, reading up on it, learning what I could, & I discovered alot about myself & how these things made more sense to me. So, before I knew it,I was on a new path of thinking ,finding that earth based religions felt right to me.

As the years have gone by, I started doing more for friends at Halloween ,making things, sending Halloween cards, and thiis has just grown as the years have gone by. I do more for Halloween, that I do for those "other holidays" thou I will celebrate Winter Solitice.

So, now you all know how I came to find Halloween & my way of live.

I hope you all had a Wonderful Halloween & Happy New Year!

In the background in the Club House at the Turning Stone Casino in Oneida ,NY. The wedding was held in the back in the gardens, which you can see small part of it the photo. The Casino has grown over the years & now emplyee's over 5000 people. Brian is a sous chef at the Wilflowers Restaurant. A 5 diamond restaruant.