Less-Words Wednesday: A Dream Come True: Fond Farewell

You would think we would take it easy on our final day in Arizona, but knowing our flight wasn't until 10pm (yuck!), we checked off the last two things on our must-do list!

Julie and Jan rose early to do one of their favorite things - ride horses! Uncle Dave met up with them to take pictures but was coerced into riding along! Pretty impressive, riding in shorts! (Also, do we all agree that my sister could be a model?!)

All week long we had been talking about an accessible desert trail that was nearby. I was so glad we got a chance to experience it! I was also way too excited about the doggy drinking fountain! So clever!

One last meal on the back patio before we headed to the airport.
Dash wouldn't smile for the picture - he was too sad about leaving!

It's been over a month since our trip and I'm still in disbelief that it actually happened. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more, and I had the perfect company. I'm hoping this is the first of a great many Big Adventures for Dash and me!

A Dream Come True: Our Name in Lights

After Monday's road trip it should have been a challenge to get out of bed on Tuesday, but with a Cleveland Indian's Spring Training game on the agenda I woke before my alarm went off!

Baseball has long been literally the only sport I follow, and getting to a spring training game has been on my bucket list for many years. When Steve and Helen proposed this crazy Arizonian adventure, seeing the Tribe play (ahem, beat!) the Cubs was a big selling point!

Of course the plan was to get to the stadium in plenty of time to get some autographs, but anyone who knows me (or my bloodline) knows that's kind of laughable! But we did get there in time for the first pitch - give me some credit!

It was such a treat to be in an intimate stadium, taking in the classic sights, sounds, and smells of a true summer pastime and to do it with so many of my favorite people! We (Uncle Dave and Aunt Karin, mom, Aunt Jan, Julie and I) met up with Steve and Helen, Allyn and Bob, and Bob and Candy. Bob has a Canine Companions for Independence service dog named Piazi, who is actually Pluto's brother!

Mom and Aunt Jan

Jules and me

In typical Arizona style, there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperatures were in the mid to high eighties - perfect for me but a bit hot for Dash and his other black-dog friends! Don't worry though, we managed to find the one (tiny) tree in the park and pretend it provided more shade than it actually did!

Dash, Piazi, Pluto, and Tundra - black dogs unite!

After a while of socializing under the tree, I felt drawn back to the game - and it's a good thing I followed my instincts! Little did I know but Uncle Dave and Aunt Karin were about to give us the surprise of a lifetime - our names on the big screen! I was in SHOCK!

And lest you worry about my fair complexion and Dash's temperature... 

And if this day were a cake, it didn't just have icing but also a gnash filling! Not only did the Tribe beat the Cubs 10-6, but when we got home from the game there was a framed photo of the jumbotron shoutout and a ball, signed by the whole team. See?! Being late pays off! :-)

Our day at the game was even better than I could have imagined. I almost always go to the Cleveland Home Opener, but it sold out extremely quickly this year. Normally, I would have been really disappointed about this, but having gone to a Spring Training game definitely took the edge off - and was measurably warmer! I'm hoping to make this a new yearly tradition for sure!

A Dream Come True: Narrow Doorways and Wide-Open Spaces

The next two days provided a great juxtaposition of the tightest of spaces and the greatest of vistas I've ever experienced in my thirty-some years.


On Sunday we set our sights on Taliesin West, which was Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and continues to be his School of Architecture. Interestingly enough, the students attend half the year in Arizona and the other half in Wisconsin, which is where he spent his summers.

Case in point: This cactus is happily
growing out of the wall!

I had only been to one other FLW building before, which was the Unity Temple in Illinois, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm glad I didn't expect to see something similar to the Unity Temple, because I learned at Taliesin West that FLW felt strongly that his works should reflect and even include the environment in which they were built. Obviously the landscape of Arizona differs from that of Illinois!

Although our tour guide could have used a course in disability-related etiquette (don't get me started!), I was pleased that - as was the case at Unity Temple - the structures were fairly accessible, albeit tight!

FLW felt that if one had to duck to pass through a doorway,
the room would feel deceivingly spacious and grand. 

Funnily enough, one of the most memorable rooms on the tour was FLW's office, which included two partitioned beds.  Apparently he had a sleeping disorder, so tended to take midday rests. If students or clients found him resting on the foremost bed, they were permitted to wake him; but if he was on the far bed, he was to be left undisturbed!

Dash says he's not picky - either bed would be just fine!

After Sunday's somewhat low-key day, we were ready for a day-trip! On Monday we hit the road to meet Steve, Helen, and Helen's mom Allyn in Sedona!

The drive North was breathtaking, out of the desert area to a mountainous area. (Fun fact: Did you know that Arizona has more mountains that any other state?!) Even though we were meeting our friends at a certain time, we couldn't help but stop at a scenic overlook and I am beyond glad we did!

Dash was trying to teach this javelina statue some manners.

Did not expect to meet Smokey the Bear, but so glad we did!

Once we thanked Smokey for his services, we were back on the road to meet our friends at the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Unfortunately my pictures from inside this chapel do not do it justice, but it was a beautiful and sacred place, without a doubt. And outside the chapel provided another great photo opportunity!

From the chapel we moved on to grab a very late lunch in Sedona. We ended up at a Mexican restaurant with sub-par food but excellent company. It was a great time to chat, catch up and get to know Allyn. After lunch we did a little shopping before headings home for the evening.

Pluto, Tundra (puppy Allyn is raising for CCI), and Dash
with a creepy stuffed bear wearing a green wig.
Some things are just beyond explanation!

And no adventure would be complete without a nearly unbelievable story...

On our way to Sedona we came upon an RV traveling the same way we were. Upon my mom's request, Julie passed it, leading to squeals of delight from my mom. Would you believe it was one of my mom's good friends who is road tripping around the country all summer with her husband, Ben?! We gave them a call and agreed to visit at their campsite on our way home from Sedona.

Needless to say, by the time we got home we were absolutely exhausted! We crashed into our beds, knowing that Tuesday would be another exciting day in Arizona .... Goodyear, Arizona, to be exact!