Dad’s View
During our father-daughter trip through Arizona last November we watched a magnificent sunset in Sedona, then on the following evening a beautiful moonrise on the distant horizon on a full moon night, followed by a desert sunrise both beyond the red rock mesas and buttes from the porch of our log cabin in Monument Valley, AZ. This was truly an unforgettable experience!
When Shivani and I were sipping hot chocolate on the porch after dinner, enjoying the outdoor experience on a cold dark November evening in Arizona desert; suddenly we noticed a small but bright orange glow at a far distance. First, we thought it was probably a fire, but quickly realized this could not be the case when the glow started growing larger. In a few minutes we were shocked to realize that we were witnessing a perfect full moonrise on the distant horizon. Watching this on a full moon night, beyond the solid red rock mesas and buttes which stood between us and the horizon was an extraordinary experience!
Next morning, we woke up early to enjoy sunrise from the same porch. The fading moon was still in the sky as it was about to set just before the sunrise. This was again a magical experience to watch an amazing sunrise at the crack of dawn while the moon was still in the sky just before vanishing. We will never forget the extraordinary experience of witnessing an amazing full moonrise on a beautiful autumnal night followed by a perfect sunrise in the desert, both within a span of 12-hours!
While reflecting on this experience it dawned on me, life is full of duality: night is followed by day, birth is followed by death, and so on. I also realized one cannot exist without the other in the eternal cycles of life and time. The dark background of night is required to appreciate the bright moon and the stars. The white background of a page is necessary to read the text written on it. I think the charm and excitement in life would be lost if it were eternal! While enjoying nature during our journey through the desert I thought, despite seeming duality in life, maybe everything in the existence is after all connected at some deeper level. Maybe everything in nature is an integral part of the whole one existence! I believe this is something to contemplate to appreciate the mystery and magic of the universe. We have emerged from nature and eventually we all will fade back into it. Immersing ourselves more and more into nature during our brief journey on this planet, may help us unlock some of its mysteries and transcend the duality of life!
Shivani’s View
What better way to start a father daughter blog than a post about a father daughter trip! In pre-Covid November, my dad and I took a road trip through Arizona. We made our way from Phoenix to Monuments Valley and back in 5 days. It was a trip of a lifetime.
What is a trip of a lifetime? I think it is very subjective. For me, these are trips that when you think back on them, give you a sense of nostalgia, wonder, and happiness. They also mark a significance in your life. I have been fortunate to experience this a few times. One of these experiences was our road trip through AZ.
AZ on its own is a special place. Sedona is sacred with its awe-inspiring bright red rock formations and vortexes. Page, AZ is inconspicuous, but its landmarks are unique and out of this world. Monuments Valley takes your breath away and brings it back to you at the same time. Imagine these experiences along with countless hours laughing about crazy waiters, jamming out to Michael Jackson, and discussing life with a best friend. This was the trip my dad and I took.
As you can imagine, this trip was so special because it was just my dad and me. It meant so much that we could share this unique time together despite our busy schedules. We had an amazing time exploring these areas and just enjoying each other’s company. For me it was an amazing week of fun and excitement, while feeling safe and secure after living away from home for over a year. It was also like spending time and catching up with your close friend. We had a blast! It will be a cherished memory forever. It was a trip of a lifetime!