Hello again,
My spouse and I just got back from a four day vacation/visit the in-laws trip to Phoenix Arizona. I always wonder why the same distance seems farther to get home from. I kept asking, "Are we there yet?" As I was anxious to sleep in my own bed. We stayed in a Ramada Inn, near the Metrocenter Mall. They've been remodling the hotel for quite some time. I guess that's why we got the room so cheap at $55 a night.
Usually I've dreaded going to Phoenix to visit my spouses' family. I have had enough drama with my own family at times, without sharing in the family dramas of my spouse. However, this trip proved to be different.
My sister-in-law, the twin sibling to my spouse, is disabled, after losing her foot to diabetes complications. She has been living with their mom in her town home in Sun City for almost a year. Their mom, who is elderly, and she too is getting to the point of needing help to get up and down etc., just couldn't take care of her much longer, so my sister-in-law moved in with her daughter and roommate. I'm sure this is still not the best situation for everyone, but for the time being it's going to have to do.
We decided to help out my sister-in-law by providing her with a computer and internet access so that she may be able to access the world of information out there for getting resources and assistance from programs in her area. However, I'm not sure if this too will work out, but I am willing to try anything.
While we were in Phoenix, we visited the Phoenix zoo with my sister-in-law's daughter and her roommate. I love animals, however, it was incredibly hot and humid that day, and we were only able to see about 15-20 animal exhibits. I took some pictures of giraffes, zebras, tortoise, and iguana. The animals were really camera shy and also knew to stay out of the sun. I think they were much more smart than us humans, walking around in the sun, and not trying to keep cool, like they were - mostly hanging out in the shade, in a hole, or in their little compartments out of the sun. So, after only a couple of hours, we left. My spouse, Marty was drenched, from head to toe with sweat. I was flushed pink in the face, and exhausted. I should have taken the cue from the panthers, lions and tigers... find a cool shady place, and lay down for a nap!
We are planning on going back to Phoenix probably around Thanksgiving or Christmas. Marty wants to visit Mom every chance we can, since she is elderly and frail. Maybe it might even be cooler then! Our trip was at least a peaceful trip when we were around his family. I was expecting hostility and bitter resentments, at least these weren't as prevalent as previous trips had been in the past. Hopefully these kind of trips will be the norm, and not an exception.
Labels: animals, heat, humidity, Phoenix, shade, vacation, zoo
