Cometsgirl

A few days ago I returned from my travels to Texas to attend the Stevie Nicks concert that wasn’t. As I noted previously, it was cancelled because of COVID cases in the band. It was a such a blow.

I did, however find Jesus…

in the Texas bluebonnets that had bloomed into the promise of spring return;

in the Maundy Thursday service I attended with with my daughter-in-law, where we were invited into silence;

in the Good Friday service, seated with my best friend and my daughter-in-law, where the three of us were the voices of the Jews as spoken in John’s account of the Passion gospel;

in the time I shared with my son and daughter-in-law, most joyously around the fire-pit, roasting marshmallows;

and in the anything-can-happen day with my grandkids.

Jack picked me up and we listened to a playlist he had curated for the drive to Georgia’s home. (Jack lives there while he attends college nearby). Some of the song lyrics, performed by musicians new to me, were profound and provided good conversation for us. Stevie-music was on the playlist, of course.

After showing me around their home, we set off off on our adventure. Georgia, too, had curated a playlist featuring Stevie. We even had a request, placed as a comment on my blog. “Play Sara for me”. We had a sing-along as we headed to the white rhino for breakfast.

From there it was a visit to the Arlington Museum of Art, with a retrospective exhibit of their permanent collection.

Then on to a local sculpture garden.

A stop at a martial arts store (Georgia is a 1st degree black belt, Jack a 2nd degree),

and a tour of the University of Texas at Arlington where Jack is a student.

We wrapped up our adventures with pizza!

The grandkids returned me home, where for the next couple of hours I basked in the midst of my Texas family as we retold our shared stories, wrapped in laughter and covered in grace.

My visit culminated on Easter Sunday as I joined my family for worship. Alleluia. Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

While there was no Stevie Nicks, there was music everywhere. Of course we plan to attend the rescheduled concert next March!

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I love Stevie Nicks. I loved Fleetwood Mac, mostly because of Stevie. When she announced her tour with Billy Joel, and the venue was to be in the city where my grandkids live….

I asked my granddaughter and my grandson if they wanted to go. Yes! Yes! I took a very deep breath and purchased three tickets somewhere closish to the stage.

It was some months later when I realized the concert was during Holy Week. Uh oh. Stevie Nicks would be singing her songs during the Great Vigil.

My best friend said “so let me get this straight – during the Great Vigil you’ll be at a concert?” Sheepishly I replied, yes. I new I would attend Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter services, so I felt okay about it.

Today I’m on my way to Texas. I’ll attend the services as planned. However, we’re not going to the concert. It has been postponed until March 9, 2024. COVID cases in the band. OH. NO.

I’m traveling anyway. It was never all about Stevie Nicks. Well, it kind of was for a time. Even more it’s about being with my Texas family whom I have longed to see.

Earlier today I was seated next to young woman in the lounge st the airport as we awaited our flights. She asked where I was traveling. I told her the story. She commiserated. Briefly. She then had a suggestion for me: Cook something delicious and put on some Stevie Nicks music. Find clips from her other concerts on YouTube.” She was charming.

A few weeks ago I decided my blog would be titled “I came for Stevie and got Jesus”. Indeed, I have.

Traveling mercies.

I’m departing for home in a couple of hours. As I await my flight, I’m thinking about the past few days.

I’ve settled on “reunion” as a theme for my trip to Arizona. In just five days I spent time with seven members of The Harvey family; eight when you count me. These are descendants and spouses of my mother’s family.

I spent time with my brother and his wife and a sweet cousin during the first few days of this trip.

Yesterday my sister and I had lunch with a dear cousin. We immediately picked up our conversation from four months ago. That’s how close this family is.

Last night my sister and I had a wood-stove fired pizza dinner with her son and his wife.

This was laugh and love-filled time! Five days of precious family time.

Women’s basketball March Madness was raging! My sister and I somehow found time to sit and cheer for my favorite teams.

On this Sabbath day I feel blessed beyond measure.

Traveling mercies.

The past couple of days can be summed up in one word – beauty.

Of honoring…

of reuniting with family…

of water…

of scenic roads,,,,

of day’s end and rest.

Days before I left home I had concerns about the plan to drive north to mile-high Prescott. Heavy rain, high winds, ice and snow were all in the forecast. I still had concerns when I landed in Phoenix.

Much time last night, and again this morning, was devoted to researching weather and road conditions. Lots of conversation and angst about what we should do. In the end we decided to take an audacious risk and go. As my sister said, “let’s try it…we can always turn around.”

So we packed our things and left home with trust and hope. We experienced no rain, no high winds, ice or snow. All that angst! A bold move – well, a bold move with an option to retreat – brought us to a place of joy.

The drive north was lovely.

We met a cousin who lives in Prescott for lunch at The Colt. It was great fun!

A day that began with concern, ended with laughter.

I grew up in Denver. Colorado. It’s known as the mile high city, as its elevation is 5,280 feet. A mile high.

Today I’m headed to Arizona to visit my sister and brother, and other family members. Some of us will journey north to Prescott. It’s also a mile high.

I understand Prescott is a beautiful place, nestled in the mountains. I have been looking forward to the trek north. Surprisingly, it is expected to snow – when it’s not raining – while we are there. I’m really anticipating lots of snow- mountains beauty.

We are staying in the Hassayampa Inn. It is a restored 1927 hotel and is included on the National Register of Historic buildings. The lobby has a hand-painted ceiling, a large fireplace, plus a coffeehouse for me! Inclement weather will find me lounging in the lobby.

My sister lives in Phoenix, my brother and sister-in-law live an hour south in Tucson. They will all meet me at the airport when I arrive. Thus begins sibling time!

I understand the dinner tonight is coming from Tucson. My brother makes Supreme Chicken Enchiladas, a recipe from one of several cookbooks the Colorado Junior League published in the 80’s.

Guacamole is on the menu as well. Some many years ago, while on a trip to Maui, I discovered Maui Chile Salt. It’s since become the go-to ingredient for my friends and family. It makes an extreme guacamole. It’s possible it will make a gastronomic appearance tonight.

In a few hours I’ll return to the desert which I love. Tomorrow I’ll be a mile high! Come along!

Traveling mercies.

Yesterday was the big day. Rice Owls vs Charlotte 49rs.

It was a most marvelous day.

I Ubered to Rice to meet my granddaughter for coffee. Here she comes.

After our provisions, we were ready for the day. The walk across the campus was such a treat. It’s a beautiful space.

A special treat was experiencing James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyspace.

Built in 2012, “Turrell’s composition of light complements the natural light present at twilight and transforms the Skyspace into a locale for experiencing beauty and reflecting on the surrounding campus and the natural world”.

Nearby is the Moody Center for the Arts. The exhibit on view was Narrative Threads. It is a fiber arts display, showcasing personal, social, and political issues through embroidering, felting, knitting, sewing and weaving.

We both enjoyed the exhibit immensely. Then it was time to head over to Tudor Field House for the game!

It’s a small stadium which means we sat near the action. The players ran like the wind! Play was so fast I had whiplash.

It was so much fun! And… drum roll… they WON!

We wrapped up the day by dining with two friends of my granddaughter. Nothing but Tex-Mex for us. I suggested Superica, a restaurant I knew to offer a delicious and unique take on Tex-Mex. It more than lived ip to our expectations.

Oh what a grand day this was!

In 2000, the film Love and Basketball came out.

Monica and Quincy are two childhood friends who both aspire to be professional basketball players. With basketball as the backdrop, Love & Basketball is a love story that celebrates a woman prioritizing her own needs ahead of her boyfriend’s, unwilling to sacrifice her basketball ambitions for love. Love. Of. Basketball.

I played intramural basketball in college. The woman’s game at the time was played half-court. Guards brought the ball up to mid-court and then passed to the forwards. I was a guard.

Following college, I had little interest in the game. It was a men’s game and frankly I found basketball itself to be boring.

Until 1996. That’s the year the WNBA was founded. The Women’s National Basketball Association. I admit the news of the WNBA sparked little interest in me at first. It was basketball after all.

Eight teams made up the league in its inaugural year of play. Houston, where I lived at the time, had a team. The Comets. League play began in 1997. The Comets won the championship the first year of play. And the second, third, and fourth years as well,

At that time I was the Interim Director of a medical research foundation located in the Texas Medical Center. During a meeting someone offered two free tickets to a Comets game. I surprised myself when I declared I’d like to have the tickets! So my best friend and I went to the game, This was during the second season of league play, and we found ourselves swept up by the speed of play and the crowd’s enthusiasm.

The rest is history.

My friend and I loved the games. We loved the team. The idea of a women’s sports league we could – and wanted – to watch, was unexpected. We bought season tickets and watched women play a thrilling game from then on. We learned what a double-double was right after a player had completed one. We were all in.

On occasion I would fly to Dallas to gather up my first granddaughter, just to fly back to Houston for a game. No one had to wonder what team was our team.

When she was in high school I’d fly her to Knoxville, Tennessee to watch the Lady Vols play. I had moved to the Georgia mountains by then and my drive to Knoxville was just a couple of hours and beautiful roads.

A few years later she went off to college, where there was a convergence I would never have imagined. The new women’s basketball coach at the University of South Carolina was recruiting interest in the student population for the upcoming season. My granddaughter told the coach about how much her Nana loved women’s basketball. For the next five years I would drive the three hours to USC to watch the women play with my granddaughter.

As I write this, that coach, Dawn Staley, has won two NCAA championships and this season the Gamecocks are number one in the nation. And… she played for the Comets back in the day.

My other granddaughter is also all in for the women’s game. She grew up with a league expansion team in Seattle, the Seattle Storm. I’ve enjoyed many games with her, and her family. The team has had great success and it’s so much fun to watch!

Her recent high school graduation festivities included a Storm game, of course.

All this background for a game I love and have loved with my best friend, with my family, and most especially my granddaughters.

Today I’m on my way to Houston to attend a game at Rice University this weekend. The Rice Owls women’s basketball team plays the Charlotte 49ers. Since this is my granddaughter’s freshman year, we are just getting started. I look forward to four years of Rice Owls women’s basketball.

Traveling mercies.

P.S. I’ve been hanging out in the Delta Club at Hartsfield-Jackson airport waiting for my flight. I looked up a few minutes ago. What I saw amazed me. A woman’s basketball team on the screen behind the bar.

No words necessary. However, I have a huge smile on my face.

This was our last full day in Taos. It’s always hard to leave this place. Knowing there are return trips – maybe even sooner than January 2024, makes it a bit easier.

Today began as all days here do. A fire, coffee, light breakfast. It is Sunday. No “formal” church was planned. We trusted we would find worship in some fashion.

Once again, the first stop was Coffee Apothecary.

While we enjoyed our artful cuppas, we made our next plan. We decided to drive south to the village, Ranchos de Taos. San Francisco de Asís Church, built in the 18th century, has long been sought out by artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe.

We entered and prayed Noonday Prayers from the book, Prayers for all Seasons. It was a lovely place to sit and pray.

The bonus was stopping next door for lunch at The Plaza Grill, long a favorite.

I had read about the art exhibit, ‘Botanicals’ at Wright Contemporary. It was our next stop and while it was a small exhibit, it was interesting and enjoyable.

Our last activity was to walk down the road from the casa to visit the llamas. We visit every year, and have named them. Hilary, Stacey, Kamala and Dawn. Dawn arrived sometime in the last year.

We will depart early tomorrow morning to drive to Albuquerque for our flights home. A last fire..,

…until we return. Traveling mercies.

On Saturday we awoke to a winter wonderland.

Lolling through the morning, the first goal was to get to Coffee Apothecary by noon.

The next goal was to get to A Salty Sweet Bakery to pick up the cinnamon rolls we had ordered.

Next up was a “pretty drive”. We learned of a back road that parallels U.S. 64, the primary road to and through Taos. It did not disappoint.

The bonus this day was to spend time with a dear, dear friend. We met at The Guadalajara Grill. Three hours later, after countless stories told, we reluctantly departed. Until the next time…

A glorious day filled with sights, tastes, and treasured friends.