This morning we woke up a bit later than usual, opened the drapes, and a stunning view of the Grand Canyon was just outside our window. There wasn’t coffee for 45 minutes later, yet it was still a great way to start the day.
After packing up, and getting coffee at the Grand Canyon Market, we were on the road for what was a long day of driving. Not long into the drive, while Zak was driving, we must of hit a small spot with internet and his phone went crazy. I looked at all the notifications and my sunk my head into my lap and probably said some not nice words. Growing up, my Grandpa Harry always taught me that the president’s most powerful job is choosing Supreme Court Justices. I remember talking to him while George W was president and his relief when Obama was elected. Although he despised Bush (not just hated, but despised) and was a huge supported of Obama, he didn’t care much about the policy changes they made. He knew they could be reversed within a few years. The power of Supreme Court Justices can be lifelong. I feared so many things when Trump was elected, but I remember sitting in a church basement shortly after election day, with like-minded progressives and each sharing our biggest worry. I channelled my now late grandpa and shared his concern, which had become mine. Today was a stab to my heart, a beating to all the work I feel like I’ve done. It made me full of rage and questioned the point of activism. Once, I got some internet, which wasn’t for hours later, I read the posts of Marie Newman, Kate Schatz, John Lewis, and countless others on Twitter and Facebook. I felt a bit more at ease.
But then we showed up at Pipe Spring National Monument. When I read about Mormans and Europeans selling the native Kaibab Paiute as slaves on this land, I lost it. Tears formed in my eyes and I couldn’t open my brain to leaning more about the monument. We took a short walk around, saw some oxen and horses, some old cabins and buggies.
We finished our drive to Zion and checked into the most adorable cabin with no the canyon walls towering over us. We’ll grab a bite at the Red Rock Grille and sleep soundly in another one of our nation’s treasures.
Unsurprisingly, the wifi isn’t great and I can’t get any photos to upload. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
