My Isn't That Just Grand

In 1989 I was a 16 Delta Hawk Missile crew member stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas (they lied! it wasn't bliss at all). My friend and fellow army buddy Beau Ro had a long weekend off thanks to the Labor Day holiday. Neither one of us had duty so Bo asked if I would like to visit his family in Mesa, Arizona and then we would drive from there and go visit the Grand Canyon. I said, "Sure, how much will it cost?" Beau told me a one way ticket only cost $19!

So we flew from El Paso, Texas to Mesa, Arizona. I got to meet Beau's parents. They were such lovely people! And then we were off driving to the Grand Canyon. It was a longer drive than I thought it would be but once we got there I hopped right out because I could not believe what I was seeing. It was the most awesome formation of nature that I had ever seen with its multi-colored rocks glistening in the sun. It was absolutely stunning!

The beauty of it all just took my breath away. So I am standing there admiring this gorgeous canyon and Beau says to me, "Come on let's go!" "What?", I said. We just got here ten minutes ago and you already want to head back?" "Yeah." Beau says, "I've seen it before."

Needless to say that we had to go since Beau was driving. I made a vow that day that if I ever had a chance to see the Grand Canyon again, I would stay longer than ten minutes.

In 1995 I was driving from Corona, California to my hometown Piqua, Ohio and can you guess what was on the way? You betcha - the Grand Canyon.