If you really want your dream bad enough…..
An elderly couple walked up to my desk and the gentleman boldly stated that they had three days at the canyon and wanted to see it all! His John Deere baseball cap sat proudly on his gray hair and his wife stood straight and tall next to him. We outlined a program for him that included some bus tours , special tours through the GC Assoc., GC Ranger programs, special events, and time for exploring on their own. The three days past, and the couple showed up at my desk again. The smiles on their faces said it all. They shared their experiences with me and were headed back to their farm in Iowa. The gentleman excused himself and walked toward the gift shop…..that gave his wife a chance to share with me privately.
Her husband had been saving quarters in a big jug he won at the Iowa State Fair for over 10 years to pay for this trip to the canyon!! Having lived on a farm, I know there had to be times that either hail, frost, low crop prices, pests, something happened that they would have use for those quarters. But he held fast to his 10 year dream. She thanked me for making his dream become a reality all that he had dreamed of and wished for.
Well, that brought me to tears….
Find Joy
About the Author
Joy taught environmental sciences at Southern Vermont College and became active in outdoor land use. Joy now lives ‘off-the-grid’ near the Grand Canyon on an acreage with solar power, and hauls water for her own needs and for her struggling raised-bed desert garden, dogs, cat, chickens, and Garrett-the-goose. Joy has rafted the Colorado River from Moab to Lake Mead, hiked many of the trails, and stayed at Phantom Ranch several times either by hiking or by mule. Learning and reading is her passion, and she is constantly learning more about the Grand Canyon.
Joy is well traveled but never found a place that was more well suited for her than the Grand Canyon. This is her home. Stop in the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and allow her to share her home with you.
