The Last Stretch

Dear Scott,

We are in Tucson! I can't believe we actually made it here. We left Santa Fe at 5 a.m. yesterday morning. It was snowing like CRAZY and about 6 degrees when we left. We managed to make it to Arizona in about twice the estimated travel time, around 2 p.m. I was unsure (doubtful) whether the sight of the Grand Canyon was going to be worth the six hour detour but I put a smile on for Jenna and kept agreeing that it was "part of the adventure!" After turning off the interstate, we drove 50 miles uphill until we finally arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park welcome sign. We paid a whopping $25 vehicle fee and entered the "park." As we climbed further and further up the mountain, with a view of nothing but pine trees and fat yellow speed bumps, I became concerned that the Grand Canyon was nothing but a museum featuring pictures of what COULD be, featured in fairytales and text books. "What do you think Liney!? That it's just going to emerge out of nowhere!?" Jenna said in response to my sour attitude. And all of a sudden, among the blur of forest green that surrounded us, the trees parted and there it emerged, a magnificent mass of beauty, so great that it took my breath away. We immediately pulled over and ran to the canyon's edge and looked out in wonder and disbelief. We both stood there in silence, it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen, more beautiful than I had ever imagined. The sight brought tears to my eyes and I stood there and cried. I cried like a baby, in happiness, in disbelief and I cried because I knew you were standing right there next to me as I gazed out over the canyon. Jenna and I took a million photographs, including our "save the date" picture, which will be printed on postcards and sent out to all of our friends and family members upon our engagement.

We left the canyon after a couple of hours, and we still had a solid six hours of driving left to do until we arrived at Jenna's grandparents in Tucson. When we finally made it, grandma greeted us with warm milk and cookies and then tucked us into bed like toddlers, it was exactly what I needed.

This morning we emerged from our nursery after a 14 hour slumber and we were greeted, once again by grandma, with fresh squeezed oj and warm blueberry muffins. After breakfast, grandma and grandpa piled us into the car and gave us a tour of Tucson, downtown and then further out to the mountains. Grandpa narrated the tour while grandma sat in the passenger seat giggling at grandpas antics. Today was their 54th wedding anniversary and they remarked over and over that it was exactly how they wanted to spend it. For dinner we ate chimichangas, washed down with chilled coronas.

Tomorrow is our finale. We will bid farewell to grammy and grandpa and drive our final seven hours out to Los Angeles. Upon arrival I'm going to crack open three beers, one for me, one for Jenna, and one for you in appreciation and in gratitude of you and jenna accompanying me on a 3,765 mile trip of a lifetime.

Until we meet again,

Liney