unwelcomed business trip......

A few weeks ago while I was on a business trip in Santa Maria California (beautiful time of year to be there btw...) when I got a call from my manager telling me that the trainer that was on one of my sites was ill and having to go home. This meant that I was going to have to head out there to finish the work. Needless to say, I was not thrilled since this meant that I was going to be on the road for a 3rd week in a row. This practice was located in Webster New York which made matters worse because that meant 2 extra days just for travel.

The trip ended up being a blessing in disguise.

This practice is an urgent care facility with later hours than the normal physician's offices (11-11). It was decided that on that Friday (5.1.09)....rather than work with them before hours, I would not have to go in until noon. So Thursday night I Googled Palmyra and found out that it was only a little over 20 miles from where I was staying. So rather than sleep in that Friday...I got up early and started out on a mini "road trip". The drive was amazing. It had been raining, but fortunately for me it decided to stop that morning. Miles and miles of rolling green hills....acres upon acres of manicured lawns and tulips of every color popping up in every garden. It was all so clean and beautiful.

I realized as I was driving that I was alone and had no way to share this with anyone...I don't normally bring my camera on business trips. So I stopped at a little old gas station and purchased the one and only dusty disposable 35mm camera that they had.

I got to the Joseph Smith property and pulled over and got out to wander around. I took a deep cleansing breathe, scanned the scenery and tears started streaming down my face. I went in to the visitors center there to ask where I should roam and an older gentleman took me on a little 30 minute tour and this is what I saw....

This is me in front of the Joseph Smith Sr's home. I can't believe that that many people lived in that home...and it's two stories...can you believe it?

This is the road between the first house and the second house...a couple hundred yards. About half way in between we stopped to look to the left...a perfect view of the temple...popping right out of the trees. I would have driven back there that night to see it in lights, but I worked until 10:15pm

Then we went in to the second home. It's 85% original. It was about twice the size of the first, but still small in today's standards. It was so cool to see their "oven", their "pantree"...to walk and feel like I had gone through a time warp...
Then we walked across the way and saw the barn and the cooper's shed. The cooper's shed was where they built the barrels that store honey and root beer that they sold.

After going through the 4 little buildings...and after hearing about the events that took place...I was pointed in the direction of the grove and told that I could wander around as I wished.















I walked down and around and through the beautiful grove....just took in the beauty and peace that surrounded me. Tears had continually streamed down my face since I stepped out of the car. At first I was a bit bummed that I was there and had no one to share it with, but then decided that I was grateful that I was alone...alone in my own thoughts with nothing else to distract me. It was an overwhelming feeling of peace and joy as I contemplated the events that took place here...events that have shaped so much of who I am.

I had also decided...since I had to go all the way to New York...and there are no direct flights from Phx to Rochester..I might as well find a layover on my return that went through JFK. So Saturday evening I flew out and Rhyannon met me at the airport. I got to spend 24 hours with my beautiful Rhyannon. And I mean beautiful...after some travel delays and the little hassles of trying to find each other in a huge airport...I finally saw her...she took my breath away...Rhyannon is so, so pretty!!

Rhyannon lives in Brooklyn in a nice residential area.

There's an outside entrance to the basement where she has 2 bdrms, kitchen and bath. It's spacious and clean and just right for her.


That night we went for a delicious Thai dinner...the next day as we were strolling through the park on our way home from a trip to a craft fair and an amazing lunch, we saw this squirrel just sitting there in a tree eating away. We stood there for a minute and it was totally unaffected by us until I shot this picture (squirrel is next to the far right tree...sitting on the line that holds the 3 trees together)...it didn't like the click of the camera I guess

I had a great time with my beautiful daughter...getting a little taste of her life and enjoying her company was so great. She is working hard and is happy and it shows...she glows!

I've been to New York a few times now and have had great experiences each time, but this trip left me with the feeling of great joy and gratitude for my many blessings!!