I’ve now had a week and a half to reflect on our wonderful time out west. I got to know my husband better, and I feel like I learned so much about myself, too. Not to mention the things I got to see! Observations and thoughts…
- Desert air is HOT and DRY. That’s no surprise, I heard it all my life, but 110 degrees in Vegas truly is easier to cope with than 90 degrees here. I never would have believed it if I didn’t actually experience it. The breeze feels like a hair dryer blowing directly on my face!
- Europeans outnumbered Americans at the both the GC and Zion, but even more so at the GC. It was so easy to spot them… they never wore white sneakers or baggy clothes, and a lot of the men had on capri pants. I think straight guys should never wear capris, no matter where they’re from! But anyway, seriously, it disappointed me… why aren’t more people from OUR country visiting our parks? The Europeans didn’t bother me and they were always very polite, but it did make me a little sad that it appeared that our own people don’t value what we have here, at least, not enough to make an effort to go. So many people I know would rather visit the same place every year than get out and see the world. Maybe it’s a factor of not being able to afford it, or not getting the time off work to do more than simply crash in a lounge chair during their paltry vacation allowance. I don’t know what our reasons are, but it definitely appeared that Europeans cared more about being there.
- That said, I was in my element being around so many outdoorsy people. Even here, I feel like a bit of an outsider sometimes among the circles I run in. It was nice to be surrounded by folks who get into sweating on vacation, and who don’t think I’m weird for living in my Teva’s.
- Don and I discovered that we truly ARE happiest when we’re playing outside and being with nature somehow. The best times we’ve had together have been when we’re out hiking, swimming, snorkeling, playing with animals, whatever. It doesn’t matter if it’s at our zoo, or a trail in Hawaii, or a beach in Georgia, or the desert in Arizona. We’ve learned that about ourselves and that is definitely shaping our future travel plans together.
- My husband is so freaking hilarious! How I wish more people experienced his quick wit and crazy one-liners. We cracked each other up for 11 straight days. That alone would’ve made the vacation time worth it whether or not we even went anywhere!
- Las Vegas… oh my gosh, where do I start? I have known people to return from Vegas and say they didn’t enjoy it at all, and I thought they were nuts and wrote them off as being unsophisticated and narrow-minded. That is, until I went there myself and now I KNOW. I’ve been to Atlantic City, been on Bourbon St twice, spent time in large cities and casinos everywhere from Canada to the Caribbean, no problem. Vegas, however, is hell on earth and I am not kidding. Don and I both felt the presence of evil even as we stepped off the plane. The entire city is built around the premise of self-indulgence. Like Babylon… it is a shrine to man, sex, money, booze, you name it, and I have never felt such emptiness and sadness just walking down the street. Temptation was flaunted literally everywhere you look, and we found it repulsive. It was like everyone was there chasing after something that they think will make them feel whole and happy, but when they leave, they will leave spent and empty. That is exactly how Satan works. How it must break God’s heart to watch what goes on there every single day.
The luxury hotels and other places that are built to be considered beautiful, they felt so cheap and dirty to me. I mean, we had just spent a week exclaiming over the grandeur of God’s creations of the GC and Zion, and then we see these elaborate imitations that cannot even compare to the works of His hands. He gave us so much indescribable beauty, and people ignore it to drool over Caesar’s Palace?!?
Even going to our hotel pool felt like walking onto a taping of MTV’s Spring Break. Loud drunks, bodies everywhere, pulsing music, no thanks. Same thing walking down the street… SO many people, many of them inebriated (no open container law), every person looking to have a good time no matter what the cost. Guys acting tough and girls flaunting everything they‘ve got. Walking anywhere outside of our room felt like going into battle, between fighting the crowds and trying not to let the whole disgusting scene get to us. We escaped after the Cirque show, and both of our moods lightened considerably as we raced out of that town back to Boulder City. I am glad we went to Vegas if only for the experience, and no one could have talked me out of going. However, being there simply wasn’t fun. If any of this resonates with you, do yourself a favor and don’t waste your money there!
- The evening after our first day hiking in Zion, I had an epiphany. Warning: possible TMI, so skip past this if you want!! Anyway, I was changing out of my clothes to get into the shower, and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. And, I was truly surprised by what I saw. For awhile now, I’ve been beating myself up for my appearance… although I am not fat and never have been, I have a bit more on my hips and thighs than I prefer. In spite of working out and watching what I eat, those areas have stubbornly refused to budge. But the reflection I saw didn’t show any of that. I saw a glowing tan from the desert sun, shiny dark hair, bright green eyes, and toned arms. The legs that I have cursed have unfailingly carried me up mountains and to beautiful places that most people I know will never even see. The curves that annoy me are a prized part of this body that my husband loves and claims as his own. I’m not a beanpole teenager anymore… I look like a real woman now with an attractive womanly figure. Not only that, but this body is STRONG and has been more than faithful to me in spite of all that I have demanded of it. This all hit me like a ton of bricks, enough that I was truly emotional about how little I have acknowledged this tremendous blessing from God. So, I am FINISHED with looking down on myself!!! Thank you, my wise and loving God, for making me exactly who I am!!!!
- For me, the best part about traveling is that I realize how fortunate I am to claim Knoxville as my home. From this trip, I learned that the desert is beautiful and interesting in its own way. But to me, it’s still so… dead. Sure, there’s some life but not like here. I love the tall and gentle mountains nearby, the lush vegetation, the abundant shade from the trees, the streams and lakes everywhere you go, the songs of the birds and insects in the woods. On the plane returning home, I couldn’t WAIT to get back into our forests. Two days later, I went hiking alone at Ijams and couldn’t believe what I was seeing… it was like being in the woods for the first time. I noticed so many things that I hadn’t seen out west… soft brown dirt, so many green plants, cicadas and crickets, frogs, on and on. I like our weather… no crazy monsoons or floods to contend with. I like that I have lots of shopping, sports, and culture nearby, and that the people here are the most caring I’ve ever met. I like where I am planted, and it is here where Don and I will bloom together.
I am so glad that I am back here in my little corner of the universe. I am simply happy to BE.
