I
will never forget standing by my Grandmother Lizzie Thomas’s
bed when I was in the middle of my years at Brigham Young University.
She had just taken a fall and broken her hip and was in a care
center. She looked up at me and said, “You are living the life
I wish I could have lived.”
Grandma
Lizzie had a hard life. She lost her mother at eight and married my
grandfather, who lost both of his parents at two. They lived in
pioneer times when travel was catching a ride in an old Model T Ford
to the next town.
Not
long after I stood by my grandmother’s bed, I took my first
trip abroad. I had just turned 23, and this was the first time I was
to fly. I was going to travel all by myself to Holland. I had two
friends that would come over and join me a week later.
I
was on my own in a strange country where I did not know a word of the
language. I didn’t even have any place reserved to stay. I
can still feel the fear I had as I took off to find my way for a week
all alone.
When
I got to the Netherlands I was able to find a small room to stay. I
was so tired from the long trip and the stress of having to find my
way in a strange country that I pushed the dresser up against the
door so no one could get in my room and cried myself to sleep.
Now
I welcome the chance to go on any excursion, even if it is to a local
restaurant that serves food from another country.
This
past week I was asked to go to a meeting in Las Vegas. I checked out
the flights and they cost more than $400.00, so I decided to make the
seven-hour drive. My next question was how I could make this trip
into an adventure where I would learn, reunite with friends, and
enjoy the beauties of nature, as these are three of my passions.
Dropping
money into a slot machine in a smoke-filled room is not my idea of
fun.
On
the spur of the moment I decided to settle my efforts on Zion
National Park. It could meet my desire to learn, have fun with
friends, and see the beauties of nature.
On
my way home from Las Vegas, I stopped in to visit two of my friends
who bought Green Gate Village Historic Inn
in St. George 13 years ago. I met Lynn and Ed Sandstorm on a trip to
Hawaii once where I was speaking, and they have been friends ever
since. I set out to persuade Lynn to go to Zion’s Park with
me.
Even
though I had been there many times, this was to be a new and exciting
adventure. Lynn began by pointing out how beautiful the red rocks
were in the afternoon light.
Red Rock Canyon, in Zion National Park
When
we stopped at the end of the road, Lynn told me that this was the
beginning of Zion Narrows. I had heard of this all my life but never
knew where it was. It was not long before we were walking up the
narrow path and meeting people who had walked Zion Narrows during the
day.
One
of our highlights was meeting three young men from Southern
California. They had been on a ten-day trip, sleeping out every
night in January. They shared their ten-day trip going from the
Arches in eastern Utah to hiking down the narrows in Zion Park. One
was a private yacht pilot, one was a professional photographer and
chef, and the third was going to a university in Southern California.
They each shared highlights of their life on the fast track.
As
it got dark we began to drive back to St. George. Lynn continued to
share highlights of this area. She even showed me where Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had been filmed.
Yes,
Grandmother, all of us today can live a life that is filled with
adventure, fun, and learning, and I know this is just what you would
have loved.
Join
Dian on her next travel adventure, which will be riding bikes
through, the fields of tulips in the Netherlands in May. On the trip
they will also be a river cruise, also in the Netherlands. It will
be an adventure of a lifetime.
Go
to www.dickjensentours.com
and click on Europe tours or call Dick Jensen for more information
(801) 917-1131. To learn more about Dian’s creative and fun
books go to www.dianthomas.com.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com