Tell Me Thursday - Drive

I took this picture Wednesday afternoon as I was driving home.

I was about 4.5 hours from home, so I was looking at a long drive to get there.

This represents some of the changes on the horizon for our family.  I alluded a few weeks ago to some changes, and me traveling for work is one of them. At the time, I was thinking of one potential client -- but this trip was for another client.  At the time, I didn't know travel was a possibility with them, but sometimes when you decide to open yourself up to more possibilities they begin dropping into your life.

This trip was the first business trip I'd taken in about 12 years. It took me to a remote part of our beautiful state, and allowed me to take in the gorgeous scenery that fills our state.  I still don't  understand people who insist the desert is brown and boring.  This time of year, it's a beautiful, lush green that is punctuated by interesting mountains. I truly love Arizona.

Before agreeing to this trip, I talked with Bo, and he was fine with it.  Until a few days prior when he admitted he was  bit nervous about me going alone. And then the day before he told me he was going to follow me to make sure all went well.  His concern was sweet, and understandable -- I've never taken a solo road trip since we've been together and I spent the first 5 or 6 years of our time together with a fear of freeways (it came on, hung in for a few years, and I'm mostly over it now.  Odd)  In the end, though, I drove myself and he stayed home with the kids.

It was a good trip.  I stayed at La Posada, which is one the last Harvey Girls hotels and was designed by Mary Colter. It was charming and quaint, with a good (albeit pricey) restaurant. I had the pleasure of changing rooms each night.  At first, I thought that would be a hassle, but it turned out to be quite fun.  I was able to experience their Standard room (rather small, with just a shower), their Standard Plus room (a bit larger, with a tub and shower) and finally their Howard Hughes room.  That was a treat since it was very large, with ample seating and a jacuzzi tub. 

The training went well, and it's always fun to have students for more than a single day.  Most of the time, I teach one-day classes, so it's nice to get to know them over a few days instead. 

And then I drove home.  To my waiting family, all of whom survived without me for the duration. Changes require stretching, and I'm glad we're all willing to stretch with life!