The Day After the Big Storm

Well,here is what it looked like today at the Grand Canyon. The sun is shining and the trees will slowly lose the white covered branches. I took the shuttle to Market Square to get a few things I needed at the store & to pick up mail. From there I walked down to the Shine of Ages to get the shuttle back. It was walking on this path that I stopped to take a few photos along the way. It was really a wonderful sight to see and I felt an inner peace come over me. I am one of the lucky ones who gets to work and play in a national park.
I will need help getting my car out of the snowbank it is in right now. The plow has put a huge pile of snow behind my car! We got about 10 inches of the white stuff with more heading this way in the next day or two.
Meanwhile, I will just sit here in my room & enjoy the beauty from looking out my window!

Blizzard at the Grand Canyon

Well, here is the road next to my dorm. They aren't calling this a blizzard, but I think they should! We have having winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts above 50mph. It is snowing like crazy out. If we get what they say, we could have 18 inches by tomorrow morning. I am so glad I do not have to go out today & be in this weather. I only went out to take a few pictures and I came back in chilled to the bone.

I think even looking at the pictures brings a chill !

I for one plan on staying indoors for the next few days. I know I will have to get my car out by Thursday, so I can make my appointment at the clinic.But until then if I need to go anywhere I will ride the shuttle.

I must say I liked last week better, sunny,warm in the 50's and 60's. Up here all you have to do is wait 5 or 10 minutes and the weather will change!

Winter Has Come Again

Winter is back at the Canyon! It was so great having warmer days in the past few weeks. During the day it got up into the 50's and low 60's a few days. Now winter is back, if we get what they say, by Wednesday morning we could have 10 inches of the white stuff. I hope not cause I have to be able to get to the clinic on Thursday for my weekly check up.

I am doing pretty good now, have not used the oxygen for the past few days. I am healing and they are thinking I am ready to try working again. It will only be part time for the first few weeks. This way I can get back into slowly .

On Friday, Sunni and I walked the 1/4 mile trail behind the Shire of Ages to go to my favorite spot on the rim trail. Sunni had the oxygen tank on wheels & a chair in case I needed it. I had to stop and rest a number of times, but it felt so great to see the canyon again ! I sat on a rock and just enjoyed the clouds over the canyon and seeing the shadows the clouds made on the canyon. I will post another picture of the canyon on that day.

I think we were out here about 2 hrs, so I had a good day getting my strengh back up. It was real peaceful at this point which is what I love about this time of year. There are not many guests here in the park. One can go on the rim trail & hear the silence of the Grand Canyon.

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?