As I sit on my horse named Cash while riding through the mountains, I reflect on all the amazing things we have done in Arizona. From visiting the Grand Canyon to catching lizards in my Aunt’s backyard, each activity my family and I have participated in has been absolutely amazing. It began with a piece of paper, my boarding pass, that allowed me to board the flight to the Copper State on that cold and rainy morning in April.

The time is 4am and I am NOT a morning person, today it is different though. I wake up and wash my face, a rare occasion for me because I usually wake up 5 minutes before I have to be out the door. I set my alarm for 45 minutes before we have to leave this time. As I set my bags into the trunk of our car, I tuck my boarding pass into my pocket knowing it will be safe there.

At the airport I am anxiously waiting. I sit, still groggy from my early alarm. I am wearing my cozy “Bedford Volleyball” sweatshirt along with a pair of soft black leggings and tennis shoes. I always go for comfortability over style, especially at the airport. While anticipating our flight number and section to be called, my long, brown locks drape down to my chair and cascade over a book I’m reading.

My heart stops when I hear my mom ask “Carly, do you have your boarding pass?” I panic and think “we’re gonna miss our flight if I lost it.” Suddenly, my hand darts to my pocket and the white page is there. I breathe a sigh of relief. Once on the plane, I am fidgety but patiently waiting for takeoff. Then, about 20 minutes later, my ears pop and we are in the air. For the first few hours of the plane ride, I admire the amazing creations below. I take pictures of the snow capped mountain ranges, red valleys, and winding rivers.

My eyelids flutter open after my four hour nap on the plane and my leg is cramping. I feel trapped between the tight, blue leather seats. My sweatshirt wrapped around my neck does not help this feeling of being stuck. Luckily, I am at ease  when I peek out the small, oval-shaped window to my right. Giant palm trees of all shapes catch my eye. Some trees look poky and their leaves stand straight out like a sea urchin’s quills, while some palm trees look droopy, their leaves hanging toward the ground looking like frowns. All of the palm trees are as green as a field of lush grass and they make my heart happy.

On the ride from the airport to my Aunt Patsy’s house, I gaze at the various types of cacti that surround the highway. I see short and stubby barrel cacti with bright red and yellow flowers on their heads along with enormous and slender saguaro cacti that look like they’re waving at me. A few miles later, we reach the humongous mountains. Their surface is blanketed by dry sand and dirt with saguaros looking like an ombré of cacti, their concentration toward the bottom. These images are the epitome of Arizona, and I’m ecstatic to be visiting. The ride to my Aunt’s house seems to last forever and is full of amazing sights. Eventually, we arrive at the beautiful home.

Behind the house, the warm, red rock feels like by feet are inches away from a campfire.. The sun kisses my cheeks and forehead. The pleasant breeze wanders its way through my hair. Standing outside in my Aunt Patsy’s backyard, I feel a sense of adventure. I begin to climb on the boulders of all different shapes and sizes trying to see what hides between them. A sudden movement catches my eye. I whip around, hoping that what just moved wasn't a scorpion. My eyes lock in on the scaly, tan skinned lizard. My heart rate drops back to normal.

The next day we visit the grand Canyon and I don’t know what to expect from this big crack in the Earth. To my surprise however, it is so interesting and breathtaking. I am in awe. It is so hard for me to fathom just how big this landform is. As I peer down into the cavern, I see rust  and orange colored uneven lines striping the jagged rock horizontally. We take a shuttle around the canyon because walking around it would take ages. From some points you can see the lush green trees down inside the canyon and in some areas you can even see the blue-grey Colorado River whose great current has carved this amazing landmark. We admire the amazing phenomenon all day and even catch the sunset on the canyon. The golden orange light makes the rocks glow as if they are coals, their heat flowing from the inside out.

After a week of fun filled, action packed days in Arizona, it is time to depart. My heart breaks at how short the trip seems, seven days flying by like seven hours. Holding my trusty boarding pass, a tear drops from my eye as I pass through the terminal gate and head to my seat on the plane. It is crazy to think that my one paper boarding pass holds so much power and so many stories behind it. I always keep my boarding pass from that amazing week in my purse so I can forever remember the glorious experiences I have participated in.