Go West Old Men: A Travel Memoir. Part 13

Sunrise at Mather Point, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park

This is Part 11 of the story, follow these links to see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12

The Majesty and Glory of Your Name

The rain had gone and it was, once again, a beautiful, but chilly morning. This was the day we would pack and head to the Northern Rim.

But first a sunrise, and what a spectacular morning it was. We gathered with a few dozen, maybe hundred others at Mather Point to watch the sun come over the canyon rim.

We didn’t rush it. I mean, there’s no rushing the sun, but we didn’t hurry through our time there, and it was spectacular.

It’s difficult to describe, and I don’t have adequate pictures. But as the sky began to get lighter and the sun was peeking over the horizon, the shadows, the colors on the canyon walls…it was breathtaking.

I sat for a long while and watched and the phrase that I kept coming to me was from a worship song.

The Majesty and Glory of Your Name

There, as I often do when I witness the splendor of creation (last week’s sunrises for example), I chuckle to myself that anyone could believe that all of this poofed into existence.

The hand of the Creator is so evident. This was (and is) no accident.

We didn’t hurry back to camp, but when we got there we devised a plan. We’d head off to the showers with our handy quarters (yeah, but hot water was worth it), Scott would return back to the campsite to take down the tent and pack up for the next leg of the journey. I would stay behind and get our laundry done.

That taken care of, we left the South Rim and headed north. On the way, we stopped at Desert View

Desert View Watchtower

Watchtower.

Desert View is in the eastern section of the South Rim of the park. Built in 1932 it’s recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It was patterned after the drweeings found at Hovenweep and the Round Tower of Mesa Verde. From the tower you can see a unique perspective of the Grand Canyon.

After Scott climbed the Tower, we had lunch and did a little shopping. I didn’t find my “Go Hike the Canyon” t-shirt, but I found it on a mug.

We left Desert View and headed to the North Rim.

Our home at the North Rim

The North Rim of the Canyon has a different feel. The road less traveled if you will. Less commercial, maybe even less touristy, only because not as any people go there I suppose.

We set up camp and drove over to the Lodge for a view of the sunset…with the people who could pay to stay at the lodge and see the sunset.

The days were nice, but the nights were not any warmer.

I was sure I would never be warm again.

 

Sunset at the North Rim Lodge


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Life is a Coffee Shop, Old Chum?

It can take me forever to choose the right coffee cup in the morning. And it does make a difference!

American Actor and singer Joel Grey was born on this day in 1932

I saw Joel Grey in 1987 in the Broadway-bound version of Cabaret that premiered at The Kennedy Center.

At least I think it was Grey. The friends we were with bought us tickets in the nosebleed section. I knew Werner Klemperer by his voice, not by sight. We were that far away.

We bought the tickets for the next show which happened to be Les Miserables. And, because of our friends’ choice of restaurants, we were late and seated after the curtain.  I think that’s the last time we went to the theater with them.

We were supposed to see Alyson Reed in the role of Sally Bowles, but she was out and her understudy Mary Munger went on for her instead…and did a fine job.

I have loved Cabaret since I first saw it in a very tamed down version at our local community theater when I was in ninth grade. I had a crush on the actress who played Sally in that production, a junior in our high school at the time. I’ve been a theater geek ever since.

I didn’t get to choose my coffee cup this morning.

While you’re reading this, I’m writing (other things) in a local coffee shop. Truth is, today it’s probably Panera because it’s familiar.

I want to find a local coffee shop. You know, where everybody knows your name.

Well, maybe not everybody.

I’ve been writing about change. This is one change I’m making.

On a side note, I quickly learned that I can’t make multiple changes at the same time and expect to sustain them. Sure, I already knew that, but sometimes we forget.

As a writer, there’s a part of me that thinks there’s something magical about sitting in a coffee shop and cranking out the next great American novel.

Still, for some time, I’ve had this idea that I need to get out there on my own “Coffee and Beer” circuit.

Then again, another one of the current changes is abstaining from beer. Not for any moral or social reasons…it’s the carbs and the calories…darn it.

What I mean by the circuit is that I want to get out there and meet with people, to hang out with people. I’ve missed that.

I did a lot more of that when I lived in the Metro DC area.  Not to mention pre-COVID.

I do have a good friend that I have dinner with on occasion. We used to spend a lot more time together after our first theater production and subsequent independent events that we produced. Not so much anymore, but we still hang out every other month or so.

Another friend moved across the country. He’s threatened to move back. We’ll do an occasional facetime call. It’s not the same.

Before I start sounding pathetic (or more pathetic), all I’m saying is that I want to purposely schedule times to both write and hang out with friends in a coffee shop.

I’m starting that today. If you see me, at least say hi.

Or buy me a danish.

 

 

 

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