A Space that Reminds Me of my Grandmother
The Grand Canyon became a national park in 1919. It is truly a spectacular phenomenon of nature. It is so massive that it can be seen from space.
In elementary school I was enchanted by the book, Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry, one of my favorite authors when I was young. This novel is based on the true story of the burro who lived on his own in the canyon after his owner died, helping people who would feed him but ignoring people he didn’t feel like interacting with; he was a very independent burro.
It was a dream come true when I got to actually visit the Grand Canyon as a child. Even more special was the fact that my grandmother, Anna Agnes Anthony McLeod Jacobs, and step-grandfather, Jack Jacobs, had an amazing connection with the Grand Canyon. Not only did they live there but my step-grandfather was a guide leading the mule caravans down the canyon and my grandmother was a waitress at the restaurant. She told me that she loved being a waitress because she met the best people. She especially enjoyed when the German tourists came and she would converse with them in German (which usually really surprised them).
In 1966 we moved to Oklahoma from California and stopped at the Grand Canyon for a couple of days. I really wanted to take a mule ride down the canyon but my mother absolutely refused to let me.
Regardless, we had a wonderful time just exploring the Grand Canyon from the rim. The view was so gorgeous that it just didn’t feel real.
Years later, Gary and I were visiting Sedona and Gary mentioned that he had never been to the Grand Canyon, so…we booked a trip on the Grand Canyon Railway.
We ate, we drank, we enjoyed the entertainment. Then we reached the Grand Canyon. We spent lots of time exploring (and no, I didn’t take the mule ride this time either.) This visit was also magical and we created lots of memories.
We ended our trek with a late lunch at the restaurant where Grandma worked (this historical hotel and restaurant opened in 1905).
I feel that in the future this would be a wonderful space for a family reunion.