Dear Isaac and Maia,

Arches National Park is one of the most colorful configuration of red rocks that I have ever seen.  It is stunning the first time you see it – better than Disney Land in many ways.  This Disney Land was made when the Colorado Plateau pushed up the surface of the land.

Red Rocks Rhapsody was my basset hound’s registered name. We called her Jackie.  IDK where we got that name from Red Rocks Rhapsody.  I guess Jackie came to mind today because I have been thinking a lot about Maizzy this trip.  She is not doing well, sick with some digestive thing that isn’t clearing like it usually does.  It has been several weeks . . . I have tried new food and probiotics.  She and Sazi both wear diapers in the hotel now.  Maizzy can’t see well and her rear hip arthritis are bad.  I am afraid she has cancer.  She turns 16 next week.

Maizzy, named for you guys, has been my rock.  Things got rocky in other areas of my life, so I adopted her to take her the places I was hoping to take you someday.  She has been there through four jobs and my doctorate degree.  She and I have been on so many trips to so many places . . . it is hard to believe this could be her last trip.

So, my mind was processing this as I drove through the rocks at Arches.  When someone is your “rock” it means they have been stable over time.  Of course, even the Arches change with time.  But, it is slow.  We can hardly see it.  But, sometimes they fall . . . eventually, they will all fall.  And, so it is with Maizzy.  Everything changes.  That’s what makes this life.

Back to Arches.  I love Park Avenue at the beginning of the drive.  I live on Park Avenue in Montrose, so it makes me think of home.

The Courthouse rocks are very cool, and huge.

And the pretty La Sal Mountains in the distance . . . they stretch into my home county.

Balanced Rock looks so fragile, but it is still standing.  I got this picture at dusk on the way back.

I like the windows shaped arches – it is one of my favorite stops and where I let the dogs out to walk around the parking lot.

 

There is Delicate Arch, which will fall someday sooner than the windows arches, most likely.  Your mom, Erica, and I hiked there once long ago without water.  That was not too smart, but we made it.

And, the Fiery Furnace is cool, too.  That was our last stop before we headed back to Moab.  We did catch a little bit of a sunset on the way back.

Tomorrow, one last hike and we head home.  I think we will take the scenic route.  Afterall, this may be Maizzy’s last trip.  My Red Rocks Rhapsody.  My heart is broken.

Love, Grandma Hartt