Old Age Day by Day February 12, 2012

My husband and younger daughter returned from their trip yesterday afternoon and clearly had a great time.  They brought me a Navajo rug, in the storm pattern, which is gorgeous.  The pictures look great and I think they had a lot of fun.  I remember several trips to the Grand Canyon as a child, and several more as an adult, and each time felt amazement and joy.  Once, when I was a child, we were heading to the North Rim in winter (you could stay there in those days, but not anymore) and the car in front of us hit a deer.  It was snowing and the roads were icy and they spin around and we did too and the dropoff to the left was into the canyon.  Somehow neither car went off the edge, and the next day, as we left the lodge, we saw a navy blue car with blood all over the hood, and even as young as I was, I knew we'd been lucky.  It was so glorious to be in a white winter wilderness, and look down into the blazing heat of the valley below.  A few years ago, our older daughter and we took the train from Williams through the snow to the South Rim.  And I've camped at the North Rim for a week at a time, afraid the kids would lean over at the lookout points and having firm grips on their arms.  It's a powerful experience, and I'm glad the fourth kid has finally taken a look at it.  It feels like the heart of America to me.