Macy + Grand Canyon & Painted Canyons

dates: 8/9/19 - 8/17/19
total distance: 4,100 miles by coach, mule, foot, boat, and plane.​

​People: Macy (aka May-May and Mace)

Macy is an old soul, wise far beyond her 11 year old, 53 lb. frame. She intuitively solves the complex leadership challenges posed in the bedtime articles I read to her from the Harvard Business Review. (Yes, I am a nerd.) Macy shares examples from her Warriors cat-tribe books - identifying pride, greed and fear as leading contributors to poor leadership. Macy is bright and loves to laugh, so if you aren’t funny, she’ll demand to be tickled – in order to laugh.

My mother believes “Grandchildren are the reward for not killing your own children...

​Mom wanted to take Macy on an adventure, where kids and seniors can experience the world together. While I wasn’t exactly invited, I volunteered to join since I’m available for travel all year!

​Places: Grand Canyon, Red Rocks & Painted Canyons

Tauck Bridges tour of the Red Rocks & Painted Canyons: Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon (South & East Rims) Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and Vegas

​Our adventure begins

Our luxurious Southwest-casita styled rooms at Scottsdale Four Seasons, offered carefully curated amenities to help Macy to feel the luxury – and a sugar buzz including:

• a child-size robe bathrobe
• bubble bath bottles
• a bag of candy

We basked in the sunshine, leveraged the pool attendants, and savored the food before riding out of town and into the painted deserts.
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The intimate tour group, 21 people from 5 families, allowed us to sprawl across the half-full coach which didn’t include any annoying travelers.

I wonder if we didn’t notice annoying travelers because we were the annoying travelers!?

Our guide, Julie, was knowledgeable about the region, well-versed in southwest history, and skilled at the fine art of diversion. Continually distracting our high maintenance group of trapped travelers with stories, history and education as our coach rode past the red-rocked mesas and buttes.
The remote locations required us to be present, in real life, without:

• cell service
• wifi
• escape!

“5 million visitors stand at the edge of the canyon each year and only 1 percent step onto the hiking trail...

Best parts of the trip:

• Sedona’s Pink Jeep tour – for young hearts and bodies – a veritable dirt-bath, including violent bouncing and strenuous bracing to prevent your brain from smashing into the barely-padded roll bars!
• Sleeping on the edge of the Grand Canyon at the Kachina Lodge - while modernization and beautification had eluded this lodge for decades, the money-shot sunrise overt the canyon from our hotel window was majestic. A delicious sunset dinner, and molten-chocolate dessert at the El Tovar Lodge, was also a magical!
• 20-minute hike into the Grand Canyon with Macy before she got bored and wanted to turn back. Only to re-enact the hike, with her friend Maya, an hour later.
• Flight-see Over Rainbow Bridge and Lake Powell cruise to Antelope Canyon
• Rafting the Colorado River through Glen Canyon around Horseshoe Bend
• Mule ride tour of Bryce Canyon with incredible views of the whimsical hoodoos. Sleeping in the Bryce Canyon Lodge after witnessing the canyon illuminated by the full moon and stars.
• The Zion’s rustic (old) lodge surrounded by 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs, where the local deer enjoy a sunset dinner of the resorts perfectly-manicured green grass. Waking up in the Canyon’s silent splendor, for a morning hike, before the pesky tourists arrive.
• Four Seasons Las Vegas – Exceptional rooms, pool and art. Bubble bath with Macy’s name on it (see photo). Donut machine on the breakfast buffet was tasty + brilliant!

Macy found a partner in crime and best friend, Maya. While I find joy in rule-breaking, I was now responsible for thwarting Macy & Maya’s trouble-seeking schemes.

When the gift shop cashier asked Macy & Maya “Do your parents know where you are?” I knew supervision was required.

Macy had her own bed, yet there were nights where she snuggled into mine. The park lodges DO NOT have air conditioning, so a little 98+ degree body in my bed was somewhat unappealing. I submitted to her sweet, yet unyielding demands (genetic)… asking her to keep her hot-little-self on her side-of-the-bed. In the darkness, she cuddled up next to me, whispering “I need to touch you in order to feel secure” and placed her tiny finger to my arm.

I didn’t understand Macy’s 10-year-old heart nor did I know:

• her parents would be divorced within four months
• she had witnessed deeply painful adult-struggles
• her heart was breaking as her family was falling apart
• she needed a confidant and the words to talk about how she was feeling.

I wish I had been aware, so I could comfort my niece - whom I love more than anything - to help her feel secure.

This adventure with Mom and Macy reminded that family and friends actually create our feelings of security – and insecurity. Hours of entrapment on the bus, forced us to slow down, disconnect, reconnect, and gain a fresh perspective on the world outside of our comfort zones.

To look back and know I have lived life well, I need to:

• focus on what matters - family/friends
• feel their hearts – even in nighttime whispers
• be uncomfortable - the best way to grow
• continue to grow in the most important ways - as a better human being.

A magician appeared during our last dinner, he was masterful at focusing our attention only to trick us to believe his illusions. This intergenerational tour reflected the magic, from the majesty of the deeply carved canyons to the fragility of our tiny breaking hearts. We have had a tough year, and are more secure when we stick together. As a family, we can get through anything and use our magic to make the impossible - possible.