A BEAUTIFUL morning!!!!!! We had coffee and tea on the patio of the McDonald’s winter home…….overlooking the RV Park neighborhood……with many 5th wheel and motorhome units parked amongst the permanent “park models”…..and all with manicured grounds, flowers blooming, flags flying, and the sounds of saws, drill, etc., etc. as the residents went about their morning enjoying their crafts and hobbies. Walkers, runners, joggers, and animal walkers all went by waving and calling out to us as they took their morning exercise……and all of them were retired senior citizens. A very pleasant and cheerful time of the day!!!
Soon we gathered things together and jumped into their SUV and headed off for breakfast in a neighboring community…….a local place called “Tags Café”…..and the food was wonderful!! Enough to last us all day……..!!!
From that town of Coolidge, we headed out of town to the north to see the “Casa Grande Ruins”. It is a National Park with only one building still standing from the Hohokum Indians who had lived there hundreds of years ago……..it was a really interesting site!!! Spent an hour or more there just walking and learning about this culture and ancient American civilization.
Onward we went to a rather unrealistic place out in the desert: The St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Monastery. WOW……what a place this is!!!! Many chapels of this not-so-familiar religious sect were highly decorated with icons, chandeliers of gold, and beautifully decorated walls and ceilings in each chapel.
The 1st Lady and Gail were required, as all females are, to put on long skirts, head scarves, and wear long sleeved tops while visiting this Monastery. Many monks were walking around mumbling their chants and mantras…….which all added to the uniqueness of this place. The grounds…..well, they are just incredible with soooooooooo many palm trees, cacti, flowering shrubs, and wonderful stone pathways and fountains. BEAUTIFUL!!!!! If any of you are ever around Florence, AZ……do not miss this wonderful Monastery!!!!!
From here, it was on south to Tucson. We just skirted the city and headed to the Saguaro National Park……..hundreds of acres in the desert and the treeless mountains covered with the large Saguaro cacti……huge plants which take several hundred years to form and grow into these large projectile emerging from the desert sands. It is a sight not to be missed if you are this area, also. I have been here before but it still amazes me with the austere simplicity of this National Park…….just thousands and thousands of cacti!!!! WOW!!!!
I then managed to get a phone call through to a former of student of mine who graduated in 1996 and is a student at the University of Arizona working on his Master’s. He is an incredible young man who has persevered through many things in his Life……and is succeeding in reaching his goals. He will finish his grad work this spring and then he is off to Colorado to attend Colorado State Univ in Ft. Collins to study Veterinary Medicine. The 1st Lady and I are both sooooo proud of him……..we both had him in our respective classes: Biology and Band. It was just great to have dinner together at a wonderful little Mexican restaurant……to visit and learn about how each of our Lives are expanding and improving!!!! His goal setting, his achievements in reaching his goals, and his excitement about his successes and his future……well, it just brings tears to my eyes. Oh yeah………this is exactly what being a teacher is all about. Thanks Matt McDaniel!!!!!!!!!!
After we parted in the restaurant parking lot, we headed back to Casa Grande as the stars were out and blazing brightly as we hurried up the interstate, crossing the desert at night……and each of reliving in our minds the long and varied day we had just experienced.
But of course…………
Life IS GREAT!!!!!!! Being a teacher has been GREAT……….and I hope all of you find your lives being great, also!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment