road trip

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Matondo's village hits the Tshimika pool

youngest niece (so far) both twins at the same time youngest nephew (so far)

You know that point in your life when you realize that the house you grew up in isn’t really your home anymore?…Maybe that’s all family really is: a group of people that miss the same imaginary place.

– Zach Braff as Andrew Largeman, Garden State

They say that nobody knows you like family and last weekend I went back to mine for a few days.

my most shy nieceOn Thursday evening we packed up and headed northwest to Fresno where I have a lot of relatives including five nieces and one nephew. Arriving Friday morning gave us three full days to spend with everyone.

It had been over a year since the last time I was there to see the kids and this was my first opportunity to meet the twins. They’re the youngest at the moment, but won’t be for long since there’s another niece on the way (scheduled to arrive sometime after Thanksgiving).

The first wave came Friday afternoon with a gathering at my aunt’s house.

grandma & granddaughterWithin minutes the house filled with people, chaos and food. It’s an atmosphere familiar from childhood holidays and one that I’ve missed much more than I expected to since moving to Arizona. A few things have changed – now I’m one of the tall people juggling dishes and kids instead of one of the little ones getting underfoot – but the sweet sense of belonging was the same that day and the next.

The kids are all water babies – they adore the ocean, spend hours in pools and flip like dolphins.

nieces in the poolSaturday afternoon found me back by a pool full of splashing and giggling, amazed at how much energy kids can maintain for hours – and loving every moment of it.

Far from being tired as dusk darkened the sky, the girls switched from the backyard to the front yard and raced tiny cars up and down the looping driveway in silly scenes too fast for my phone to capture during fading light. (though yes – I tried anyway!)

Finally, far too soon on Sunday evening it was time to pack up our own car again and head south – back to the sun and heat and relative solitude of Arizona.

nieces on cars

driving through California back in Arizona back in Phoenix

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I’m grateful for a lot of things, but for this blog entry, I’ll just pick one to show you.

My parents came to visit last weekend – and since they’d already come about halfway around the world, we decided to go just a little further.


And then we headed home.

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Last Friday, I went to San Xavier for the first time with a diverse group from the Cronkite School at Arizona State University including their newest graduate class, the current Humphrey Fellows and this years Murrow Fellows.

San Xavier is a cathedral built by Padre Kino among Tohono O’odham people in an area they named Wak. Today it’s open to the public and maintained by the non-profit group Patronato San Xavier, which also give tours of the building and grounds.

Our guide, Judith, first showed us a model of the structure and explained that the restoration process now underway is strictly allowed to maintain and preserve the existing buildings but not add or embellish anything. She led us through the courtyards and side rooms while telling us about the history of the Tohono O’odham, Padre Kino and the Franciscans who came later. The museum holds locally made baskets and art as well as books and vestments saved by the congregation during the years that the church’s future was uncertain. (I’ll post photos of the grounds and chapel next.)

After the tour, some people climbed the hill where early morning services are often held while others bought fresh frybread in the front plaza in front of San Xavier before we all boarded the bus and drove away.

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When the semester starts, so does A LOT of responsibility: classes, homework, teaching, etc.

The end of break was in sight. The situation was dire.

Trish, Steven and I figured we had just enough time for one last trip and we headed south…

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Because I can never pass up an opportunity to photograph a good meal : food photos from Tuesday’s reporting trip to San Luis with Cronkite NewsWatch reporter Laura Yanez (the story about SENTRI is here, and check out other Arizona news at the main Cronkite News page)

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On Tuesday, we drove north to Sedona. Finals ended last Friday, and I start a fellowship next Monday, so this was our opportunity to hit the road. It was large part break and small part assignment, to scope the city and the scenery for my mother who’s always been interested in going.

We saw beautiful scenery.

We met a group of interesting little birds.

On the way back, we discovered what difference light can make – the two sets photos below were taken in the same place, from slightly different angles and a little shutter speed tinkering on my part.

Overall, a great afternoon…

From Sedona, Arizona (May 2010)

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