As the MVP poured it out in his post game presser, I too felt gutted. All of Packer nation felt gutted. What an incredible run of a season, with the highest hopes and the best chances since 2011, all to be buried by a GOAT.

It all just, ended. Football was over for the year and as Vikings and all fellow football fanatics know the feeling of despair in sport, it takes a solid period of time and/or an event to move onto the next.

So I needed a getaway. Fortunately, over the years, my subconscious ability to put that getaway into motion has improved. This time round, the lady was packed with work (actually encouraged me to go :)), the January insurrection > inauguration had officially consumed all waves of air, and a short break in the work schedule freed me for a coveted 48 hour trip (see:From within the Silence).

This one was actually 72 but what’s the difference.

I hadn’t been on a plane since March of 2020. Much less, I hadn’t left the State since the pandemic started. This was my opportunity. And without a doubt in my mind, I go (south) West.

Arizona is always my place. Has been since I was 6 to see the grandparents. And for (#Delta) $116 straight shot, round trip to Phoenix, caaa-ching! It always drove my Dad nuts, and probably still does today, but beyond that plane ticket and a vision, I had no other reservations up to the night before departure.

But come awwwn… where else to go but the grandest place the eyes can see. Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA, of course! If you’ve never been, please do yourself a favor. In times of overly inward thinking, the Grand Canyon is one of countless places to remind you that you are merely a spec of a molecule inside a piece of dust in comparison to what is really out there.

Here are my notes from my Westerly Winds trip of what I did and the mindset that carried me through.

• #Delta Wins! Thanks for bringing me closer to normalcy, with a seat in between :)

• Deep consideration about boycotting pro sports and espn for 6 months. I’ve officially lost it.

• Booking a rental car, for cheap, on the airplane at the Gate. Picking it up in 10 minutes… unimaginable ever 10 years ago. Life is good.

• Friday, January 29, 2021… 30 minutes south of Flagstaff… 1 inch of snow = Interstate STOPPED MOVING, COMPLETELY STILL. Took 6.5 hours from Phoenix to Tusayan (Grand Canyon) when supposed to take 3.3 hours. Moments driving in the howling wind and snow just west of Flagstaff that this was THE END.

• As one could imagine, the tourist town of Tusayan (10 minute drive to the GC South Rim) was friendly but a complete ghost town.

• Bright Angel Trail… “the silence is deafening”… welcome the vibrations of life.

• It’s times like this when you relocate to see what the rest of humanity is up to. It’s a place where you drop into and realize that you are just a spec of the grandiose picture. It’s why we are reminded that life comes and goes and that everything you do in your time on this earth is precious. Get after it !

• Hustle but Slow
  Patience but with High Expectations
  Perseverance but with Precision… across obstacles as only stepping stones

• Made it 8.5 miles to Plateau Point. I spoke with a young fellow, Jose, a 22 year old from Austin, TX with great ambition. Was a great idea to take the hike back up together.
  ”If you want to get fast, go alone… if you want to go far, go together”

• Stopped to talk to hikers, some of which slept over night at the bottom in Phantam’s Ranch. (Long time friends of mine and I hiked and slept at Phantam’s Ranch for James “Eyes of the World” Isaac’s bachelor party in the Fall of 2013. Just incredible!)
  Just as well, I spoke with a fellow who was heading down for a 10 day hike on his own. Some day!

When Jose and I reached the top, it had officially taken 6.5 hours to hike 15.58 miles to Plateau Point and back on the Bright Angel Trail. I was exhausted yet felt full of energy. On Cloud 9 as they say. I laughed out loud for the first time, perhaps, in 10 months. I spoke to passer-byers at the top with absolute confidence and enlightenment.

Accomplish your goals and you’ll enjoy to no end! This is my true self. (Thank you Jose and the Vibrations of Life!)

On Sunday morning, I drove back to the South Rim to get in one more hour of amazement from atop the Canyon. It was 25 degrees that morning but worthy of a short run and moments of silence.

I drove south by late morning and got another hike in Sedona where it was about 60 degrees and still relatively silent. Back to Phoenix before nightfall then out on my flight back home on Monday morning. 72 hours total and returned to jump right back into work and the staff interview season, full of great energy and new perspective.

We have much bigger fish to fry than favorite football team heartaches and of course whatever bologna is on the daily news.

Worry less… BE GRATEFUL and don’t forget, Life is short… Get out there! -CS