After working all morning in Carol's office, we took the afternoon off to see the sites near Flagstaff. Our first stop was at Oak Creek Canyon where we walked the canyon rim, and oohed and awed over the rock formations and the winding road below that we would soon travel.
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| the road we traveled from Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona |
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| Close up of Ponderosa Pine bark |
We finished the day with dinner at Taverna, a Greek grill restaurant. I dined on beef and lamb kabobs, lemon potatoes, and baklava cheesecake for dessert. Besides fabulous food, periodically the waiters serpentined through the dining room to the beat of Greek music. Fire-breathing waiters entertained us several times throughout the evening.
During our drive this afternoon, Carol and I talked about what I like about the South (a question asked by my long-time friends several weeks ago). I haven't really thought about the South on this trip, but I promised my friends that I would ponder this question which I could not answer at the time I was asked. So I pondered today with Carol's probing questions and here is my best attempt at an answer.
Things I like about the South:
- country ham biscuits
- my good friends, none of whom fit the Southern woman stereotype
- I have created a life I love here
- Southern hospitality has taught me gracious entertaining
- an appreciation and love of home decorating in the Williamsburg and Southern Living traditions
- within a small group, learning that answers to prayer and a personal relationship with the Almighty are indeed possible. This group encouraged and supported my spiritual journey.
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| fruit on a prickly pear cactus |
I agree, its hard to say why the South. I really like your answers. One of mine would be that there is something cozy and relaxed and warm here. Not just in the temperature but in the people and the way of living. Ya know?
ReplyDeleteMiss Jean,
ReplyDeleteThrilled to hear you were in Sedona. It's an amazing and picturesque place. In one of your earlier posts you described someone who had stopped dead-center in the road to take a picture of something ahead. Mom, my friend Shelley, and I did that when we were in Sedona. We just couldn't help ourselves. The beauty stopped us in our tracks. On your ponderings about the South, I have a question... have you noticed that the Fall season is a tangible thing in the South? As October looms, I'm atuned to every variation of color I see creeping into our trees here. There is a crispness in the air and a particular smell. I crave pumpkins and mulled cider and anything seasoned with cinnamon. I wonder how folks in more arid places like Arizona and Texas or even in more tropical places like Florida note this transition from summmer to autumn?