US IN ARIZONA

I actually got up early enough one morning to catch the sunrise. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the sunrises are as gorgeous as the sunsets we have here in Arizona.

It seems to take others to roust us out of our ‘nest’ to see more of the local area. Friends have told us for years how lovely the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near us is but it took the arrival of Zoe’s daughter and son-in-law to finally get us out there. Our friends were right, it’s a beautiful place. I had had an epidural shot in my back for my back and leg pain so was even able to hike the trail displaying medical plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert. We have had so much rain here this winter that it is the first time I have seen the desert floor a carpet of green. We plan to return to the Arboretum in a few weeks when there will be an abundance of wild flowers in bloom.

Zoe’s daughter thought we had arranged a wonderful welcome for their arrival in our park as they came in the middle of the annual Mardi Grass parade. A motorcycle brigade greeted them, performing intricate maneuvers while park clubs all marched in bright array to tunes reflecting their club activities. There were even miniature ponies catering before them.

We have even made it to one of the shows of older performers that come to our park: the Smother Brothers; Tammy Winnette; Tony Orlando; Ronnie Allsap; Myron Sommerfield; Mills Brothers; Ink Spots; etc. We went to see an Elvis impersonator, Don Rose. We didn’t realize it was a ‘50s dance but with my back and leg it was out of the question anyway. It was interesting to see the couples dancing to the old songs while the aroma of popcorn and Ben Gay wafted through the ballroom. Some of the people really got into the mood.