In the beginning...

I'm finally here!  Where to start?  I've now lived in AZ for 5.5 days.  I've spent a total of, what feels like, 9.9 days just commuting to/from work or clients homes.  Because I am now a seasoned Phoenix driver I feel it's appropriate for me to share a few observations about driving in Phoenix for those of you who have never had the pleasure.  (for more great insights on driving, please refer to the China series at www.wayfunchina.blogspot.com)

1- Drivers here do NOT understand what purpose the "fast lane" serves.  I'll tell you one thing it apparently is, it's a place for the slowest drivers on the freeway to sit and stay.

2- Blinkers are OFF limits!

3- NEVER go the posted speed limit, go 20 mph over!  NOW...MOVE!!!

4- NEVER let mergers...well, merge.  They do NOT belong here, after all, I was here first.

These are just a few lessons I have learned as I've traveled "the 10", "the 17", "the 101", "the 60" and "the 101".  I hope this wisdom I have imparted will help you each in some way.

Now, can I just say that some of the most beautiful skies/sunsets I have ever seen have been in the Southwest!?  Incredible!!  I will post a picture soon, but it won't do it justice.

My job is wonderful!  People who provide care for those with Disabilities are some of the best people I have ever met!  Talk about a snap back into reality and the important things in life!  I can't even express how grateful I am to have been given the opportunity to work in this field with the people I do!  I am so blessed and so pumped!

I also have some incredible family here.  I've never lived close enough to extended to really get to know them and I am really excited about the chance I have to do this now!  I have 3 aunts here who have been so amazing!  They call to check in and see how things are going and if there is anything they can do, it means the world to me!!!  I love them for it!

The other day I was thinking about an experience Emily and I had in Oregon.  We were on our morning walk/jog....okay, we were wandering.  We walked down on the beach and then walked up to this cliff to get a look, we decided to walk further in to this forested area and see what we'd find.  It was a rocky point that jutted out into the ocean and we knew we'd reach the other side eventually and there were paths, at least for a little while.  The further we got into what became jungle-like, we saw fewer and fewer "paths".  (I kept thinking about that movie "Ferngully", that's exactly what it looked like.)  But, being the mountain-women we are, we trudged along, happy to have a new adventure.  When we came out on the other side we received a precious little gift.  Out on this point there was a Native American gravesite and just off the point, on an island-rock there stood a beautiful old lighthouse.  The island-rock was connected by a rickety old bridge, which was closed to the public, thank you state of Oregon for keeping us alive.  It was so picturesque!  We sat and just enjoyed the view and our thoughts.  Upon arrival to this quaint little spot, we noticed an older man walking around as well.  He also took notice of us and we exchanged a few words about the path to/from this location.  He shared with us the easiest way back to where we had come from.  He informed us he'd marked the trailhead so we could find our way back through less tick-infested forest.  We thanked him, wished him well and he went on his way.  Once our hunger got the better of us, we decided to head back.  We walked down the road we'd come across after our jaunt through the jungle and when we reached the end we realized we had not seen the trailhead he'd assured us was there.  We backtracked and upon closer examination found the marker he told us he'd leave.  He had formed an arrow out of sticks to guide us to the trail.  I am so grateful for people, who I often stumble upon, that help me stay on track or help me correct my course.  Each of you, in varied ways, have done this for me at one time or another.  I thank you.