Saturday, May 24, 2014

"The Valley Of The Gods..."






Monument 
Valley

Scattering Scooter... Day 5

 There is an area in Southeast Utah/Northwest Arizona that the Navajo refer to as the "Valley of the Gods"... this encompasses the area of Monument Valley as well as up around Mexican Hat...

 My favorite part is Monument Valley... but I also desire to get back out and look at the other areas... there is so much to be seen.
Mexican Hat
in Utah
(not my photo...)

I have been enthralled with this place ever since the first time I saw it from the air... while flying back home from San Francisco, CA... although I had seen it many times in any number of John Ford / John Wayne westerns... my favorite is 'The Searchers'... I will watch it every time it is on TV just to see those fantastic mesas and buttes...
John Wayne... 
Merrick's Butte in the immediate back ground... 
One of the Mittens to the left..

 One my first visit ever out there, I took some photos, and have them framed on my office wall... Scooter was visiting day and looking deep into the images...
His comment was something along the lines of... 

"Take me there..."

 I told him that if he would get well, and able to travel, I would do that... I told him that I didn't need to be throwing his body out along the side of the interstate outside of Amarillo... 
So he and I had a deal... a commitment...

 ------------------

So... we set out from Farmington on Friday morning... and saw some spectacular scenery between there and Kayenta, AZ... and then you turn north on Hwy 163...
... and you start to see some amazing vistas... 
The most recognized buttes of that area are The Mittens...
Left and Center, The Mittens... 
to the right , Merrick's Butte...
(my photo)
... although one of my favorite buttes is 
Castle Rock
This is the most spiritual place I think I have ever been...

No matter how many times I've been, 
I always want to go another time.

Scooter knew this...

Maybe this was one of the reasons for his request...

knowing that it would get me back there one more time.

So, Scooter... we made it out there...


All 1,439 miles...
(at least 2,878 miles round trip...)


It was an honor and a privilege to do this for you...



~shoes~
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21 comments:

  1. Miss Stormy "Gumshoe" MarplesMay 24, 2014 at 3:25 PM

    "Take me there."

    I agree I think he knew what he was doing when he asked u to take him there.

    I have to smile at ur last photo. It is AWESOME!!! U dress the way I have been dressing my ProfessorAlex.
    Too cute. He wears bowties and ties that I sew for him. Funny that u being a professor wear bowties too. It is always an image in my head how I view professors.

    I think I may copy and make it a bookmark for my mysteries. I do that with photographs that INSPIRE me make them into books marks.

    Know this Professor Red Shoes--

    U are a handsome man. Not only in looks but in character. It is very rare nowadays to be worthy of both those traits. I know that probably makes u blush. But I believe we must tell people the good things about themselves. Too many times people only criticize us. They never share what they love about us until it is too late to whisper those words to them one more time.

    What a beautiful memory for u. One to add to ur book of life. I hope u have many many many more.

    "Take me there." Beautiful words. No????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesMay 24, 2014 at 11:01 PM

      "Take me there..."

      Yes... I think back to when he said that to me... and it causes chills... as if all of this was supposed to happen...

      A friend gave me a bow tie... and I had to learn to tie the damn thing... and now I LOVE them...

      ~shoes~

      Delete
    2. Miss Stormy "Gumshoe" MarplesMay 25, 2014 at 2:13 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  2. Kalei's Best FriendMay 24, 2014 at 6:12 PM

    Wise friend u have there!. He knew exactly what he was doing when he asked u to be the one to take on that task.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesMay 24, 2014 at 11:02 PM

      Hi, Chris... I think so... at least subconsciously, this trip was already planned...

      How are you doing?

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  3. stephen HayesMay 24, 2014 at 6:14 PM

    You 've honored your friend in the best way possible. We would all be lucky to have a friend like you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesMay 29, 2014 at 11:59 AM

      Good morning, Stephen... Thank you so much for your kind words... we all should be friends like this to someone... I would hope that I would have a friend who would do the same for me...

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  4. AmiMay 24, 2014 at 7:35 PM

    There are few things more respectful than honoring a person's last wishes. You've shown yourself to be a person of integrity and heart. I'm so glad you were able to do this for your friend.
    (((hugs)))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesMay 29, 2014 at 12:01 PM

      Hi there, Ami... good afternoon!

      I do believe in keeping my word and promises that I make. Thank you so much, Ami.

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  5. SimplicityMay 25, 2014 at 6:53 AM

    I have been so touched reading this journey you took for your friend. Such an honorable thing to do. What a beautiful resting place!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesJune 1, 2014 at 4:01 PM

      Hey you... how are you? It's taking me a while to get caught up on blogs and writing.. augh...

      Thank you I did want to write about this.. document it for family and friends who weren't there...

      I hope all is well with you...

      Jim

      Delete
  6. Ryan BeaumontMay 25, 2014 at 9:03 AM

    I think you should save a little of Scooter and take him to Dreamland in Tuscaloosa. That place is a religious experience for me! :)

    After all that travel you owe him a good meal!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesJune 1, 2014 at 4:10 PM

      Hi there, Ryan... that would have been a great idea!!

      How are things with you??

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  7. YvonneMay 25, 2014 at 7:14 PM

    Hi Red! Hope all is well, friend.

    Thanks for the pictures they are amazing! I love learning new things and you brought something to my attention that I didn't know existed.

    I think Scootter knew exactly what he was doing when he asked you to do this for him. He was lucky to have you in his life as were you.

    Men in bowties? Absolutely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesJune 1, 2014 at 4:43 PM

      Hi there, Yvonne!! Yes, that is an amazing area!! What a beautiful part of our country!!!

      Bow Ties? You bet!!!! ;oD

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  8. D.E. MaloneMay 25, 2014 at 9:44 PM

    That's beautiful country; we were there last August. The Searchers is my husband's favorite JW movie, so much so that we named our son John Ethan. John for JW, and Ethan for the JW's character in the movie!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesJune 2, 2014 at 4:49 PM

      Hi there, Dawn...it IS so beautiful out there...

      Ethan Edwards... John Wayne named one of his sons 'Ethan' as well...

      I loved that character... that was one dark role he played in that movie...
      ~shoes~

      Delete
  9. Miss Stormy "Gumshoe" MarplesMay 26, 2014 at 4:30 AM

    Sorry that last comment was way too long. I needed to delete it.

    Scooter knew. Our true friends always know us.

    Bowties and hats. Distinguishing look.

    One of my day job's best friend let's me dress him. And he also will smoke cigar so I can enjoy the smell. It is our thing to do. Sit on the sofa very close and talk while he smokes his cigar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesJune 2, 2014 at 4:38 PM

      You can be quite verbose sometimes!! ;o)

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  10. Almost PreciousJune 3, 2014 at 4:02 PM

    It is breathtaking country. Glad you were able to fulfill your promise to Scooter, those memories made will long be treasured.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cocaine PrincessJune 5, 2014 at 10:58 PM

    Well done my friend. Well done..

    I can see why Scooter choose you to carry out this task. Shoes, you are a true, good friend with a heart made of gold.

    ReplyDelete

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