Hey parents! Yeah you, you all know who you are. Remember those days when you decided you wanted to have a kids or 2? Maybe 3 or 4 if you were in a decent enough tax bracket for either tax dodging or food stamps? As you went through pregnancy and then infancy, there was one glorious thought on your minds likely...WHEN THE HELL CAN WE KICK THIS KID(S) OUT OF THE HOUSE SO WE CAN HAVE A LIFE BACK?
We all know those lucky moments don't happen that often, especially if a handy dandy grandparent or aunt isn't so handy dandy in town. Luckily for us, Vickie's mom is nearby as is her brother and his family. That generally works for a one-nighter if we need it.
When Natalie was just 6, my dad arranged for her to fly solo to spend time with him. That was all fine and good...except that he didn't really get a confirmation from us that it was ok before paying for the ticket. That set off a little panic from us, as we weren't quite ready for that. In the end, though, we decided to go ahead with it, knowing in our hearts that the on-board crew would see to her if and when needed.
If you've ever flown your child by themselves, it's not that easy. Well, sometimes it is. If you see how far they can fly from the porch door to the back wall and they're under 70 pounds, sure they aviate fairly well once your foot initiates propulsion. No, I mean in terms of dealing with the airport. If you just drop your child off at the ticketing counter, he/she/pick a pronoun will likely seek the luggage loading facilities a la John McClane in Die Hard 2 just for kicks.
Depending on the airline, some require your child's birth certificate, some require their immunization records, others require their latest FBI dossier. Luckily for us, Southwest merely required the proof of birth. Unluckily, at McCarran Airport, if you park instead of merely depositing the flyer, you have to walk a ways past baggage carousels and one of many mini-casinos before you hit the ticket counters. Then once you find your airline (the furthest one down ALWAYS) then it's a long line as the one who paid for the ticket always uses the most popular and cost-effective and least accident prone airline for some reason.
Once you reach an actual agent, then it is another long process getting the birth record verified, blood type confirmed, parents' SAT scores pulled up...these folks are THOROUGH! Afterward, the minor gets a lanyard with all of their info inside. Then it is off to security where one parent each will forget one of the following:
Wallet
ID
Child
Shoes
Phone/device
The first 4 happen all of the time and get a warm-hearted chuckle for the oops. after you get all the way to the gate. The fifth one, however is a matter of life and death. This happened to Vickie once when all 3 of us went to her cousin's wedding in Houston, and she didn't realize she didn't have her iPad until we were at the gate and by the time she got back to security, it was long taken.
Afterward, it is just a wait until boarding time and the time she was 6, it was a tearful departure for all 3 of us. Of course, Natalie was good once she was in the plane and pampered by all she charmed. There were a lot of unaccompanied minors on that flight, so she was in good hands.
This past week we had the same situation except for a few things. This time I skipped the suspense and left my wallet at the ticket counter (recovered by Vickie) and then my ID got shuffled at security's scanner, but was recovered. Also, Natalie is now almost 12 and really could have handled it all without us. She is THAT independent. However, as she is still 11, we had to accompany her one last time. On this flight she sat with another girl her age and they just partied all the way to San Diego. The girl's grandma talked our ears off while we waited for the jet to pull out. I don't know what it is about me and my wife, but we are natural magnets for strangers' life stories and there is no known steroid to treat this. After losing the grandma, we got out of the airport and headed for Utah.
There is something about that state that is just magical to us. If you have not been there, chances are you are avoiding it on purpose or just have no reason to cross the Susquehanna River (my Berks County friends know who I mean!). I have written about Utah previously, and there is just so much beauty about the state that one really doesn't know where exactly to start. Now, there is a very good chance that you associate the entire state with Latter Day Saints...you know, the Mormons. Have no fear, you stand a very good chance of not running into one for at least fifteen seconds upon crossing the state line! Just kidding, more like seven seconds. Seriously, I have made good friendships with many a Mormon at work over the past nineteen years, good people, they take their faith IN good faith more than other church-goers I know.
The neatest way I have found to enter Utah is on I 15. After leaving Nevada, you cross the Arizona Strip, which is the very northwestern sector of the state and inaccessible to the rest of Arizona unless you are on a horse. What is neat about this stretch of highway is that you go through a very narrow canyon for a bit and after emerging from it, you gaze upon a GORGEOUS panorama of mountains and red rock cliffs that left you know you are entering a very different desert from the one behind you...actually that desert behind you tried to pull and pull at you to stay but once you emerge from the canyon and had only 2 miles of Arizona left, it practically kicks you out!
Our destination was Cedar City...a town named for the tree which was THOUGHT to be cedar but was actually juniper...ah those pioneers had been on the trail a bit too long. Before Cedar City, though, we passed through the town of St George, which is quite Vegas-like in terms of climate and traveler services. After that town, though, I 15 climbs about 3,000 feet for 50 miles and the weather gets a bit cooler in the daytime AND nighttime.
After getting to our room at the local Ramada, we headed for Rusty's Ranch House and had a good dinner, then headed back to town and caught a gorgeous sunset. We also put our windows down as the temperature was no longer Vegas-like.
The next day, we headed out (after getting dressed) and ate breakfast at Amber Kay's, then did some shopping along Main Street. One thing we noticed is that pretty much everyone was really nice, even nicer when you buy something. While there we learned about the upcoming Pioneer Day, which is a major holiday in Utah. We then headed up the mountain to Cedar Breaks National Monument and caught some really spectacular views. It was also thundering and lightning quire a bit so the views were enhanced. Rain and temps going down to the 50s just confirmed we were in a different land altogether. After Cedar Breaks, we had some lunch in Brian Head, went on a deep decline downhill, and got back onto 15 in Parowan and drove the 16 miles back to Cedar City.
For dinner, we settled for Sizzler...and yes I do mean settled...as in the food settled in our stomachs after a desperate struggle to not exit back through the mouth! Like other chains, Sizzler is not what it used to be...meaning it used to be great when I was young and didn't discern between quality and crap.
The next day, we got up and checked out of the Ramada. It was a sad departure, for we really enjoyed the atmosphere, temperatures, and the people. I really could live there if provided the opportunity. On the way back we checked out Kolob Canyon, which is part of Zion National Park. It was pretty spectacular, though I question the $35 fee. The best thing to do there is check our Kolob then go to the main part of Zion right after to make the money spent worthwhile. However, we missed our home and cats and BED!
We will check out Pioneer Day perhaps next year. I'd like to come back sooner, maybe experience some snow, which I know falls regularly in the upper elevations. Until then, I will try not to lose my wallet.
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