Incredible and so worth the effort to get there
Years ago, Audrey and her friends hiked down to the falls in the Grand Canyon. The pictures she took of beautiful waterfalls and dream-like blue green water captivated me. I am drawn to almost any type of water, but Havasupai whispered my name in a powerful way. I vowed to go. I envied the fact that she took all these fun trips while I was tied down with a family business and numerous small children. Even though I knew I could take three days from my life if I HAD to, I never did. Responsibilities and inconvenience to others weighed heavily while making plans.
Havasu Falls-another time, another photographer
Last January, without the family business or dependent little people to factor in, we made a plan. I booked a couple nights in March at the Havasupai Lodge and arranged to meet Audrey for my long awaited adventure to the magical waters. But, a month before our scheduled departure I changed the plan so I could join Brandon in California on one of his business trips. I called the lodge and booked the next two nights available which wasn’t until the end of September.
Audrey in front of Havasu Falls
Audrey knows I am unreliable and flaky (I prefer spontaneous to an inconvenient degree) in all matters of fun activities and was undaunted. She merely kept my original reservation (they are hard to get) invited some of her friends and went without me. She returned with fabulous photos and threatened me with unspeakable consequences if I should dare to cancel on her AGAIN! (Hey Auddie, I’m still sorry about blowing off the reunion after I talked you into going.) Suzy had scheduled two days off which is stressful because of all the work that awaits her when she returns. (The disadvantage of being so good at your job, Soupie.) I knew I had to either go in September or consider myself officially orphaned.
Me and Soup taking a dip at Navajo Falls
I’m talking about a place I’ve wanted to visit for years so why did I need pressure to go in the first place? Doesn’t seem to make sense, does it? I am indeed a mysterious woman, just ask hubby. He is still searching for the manual. Maybe after a few hundred hours of counseling I’ll know more. But for now I do know this:
Whenever I plan a trip or a fun activity that requires any degree of effort I always start out super excited. I consider myself an adventurous person. Then as the day draws closer I remember all the negatives about how sometimes traveling sucks. I remember changing diapers in airport bathrooms, vomit, messed up sleeping schedules, poopy blankies at the beginning of a long trip. When my children were young we lived overseas and I took them back and forth across the globe numerous times. All the hardships of traveling with babies has made me dislike traveling. Even if there are no more crying babies to take.
Lately I hate driving for more than an hour because my broken down body complains. The start of the hike is a six or seven hour drive from my house.
The biggie is that I feel guilty when I leave because when I’m gone the teenagers live on waffles and video games. Before that it was about how small babies don’t understand why mommy isn’t there. I have a huge of list of reasons why I don’t need to have fun.
The reward: Mooney Falls
I tell myself that I can just enjoy photos of where ever I’m going from the comfort of my own home. Or read a really good book about the place written by someone who has already been there. Talk about efficient! I love efficiency, it’s one of my favorite hobbies. Who really needs to go? I could save the traveling money and spend it on a good cause. I could feed the hungry and clothe the naked or feed the naked and clothe the hungry or… you get the idea. By now, most of you are probably encouraging me to go ahead and start in on those hundreds of hours of necessary counseling. Or wishing I would just stop rambling. Or both. So, I will finish this post by saying: go to the falls. Google it if you don’t have a sister/tour guide who’s been there numerous times. There are lots of helpful people in the land of internet. Get in shape to hike. Save your pennies or write it off as therapy. Whatever! It’s worth the trouble. And let me know when you’re going cause I’d love to return.
Suzy and the stray
One of Sandi’s observations: If you never find a way to go skinny dipping in the real world (bathtubs and backyard pools don’t count) your life is incomplete. Let me rephrase in case you didn’t get that. Go skinny dipping or live an unfinished life. Just don’t get yourself arrested.
