A Valentine's Day, A State's Birthday & a Friend's Funeral

14 February 2008

Last year, a friend sent me a story about Valentine's Day that it was originated in the 5th century.

Arizona, born on February 14, 1912, as the 48th state in US, is 96 years old! The sixth largest state in US, 114,006 square miles, is the leading copper producer in the nation. It was once the largest cotton producer in the country.

In the small community, 11 miles south of Holbrook city, the first woman Commander in the Arizona Wing of the Civil Air Patrol was laid to rest. Helen Lois Crofford, born September 1, 1932 in Mesa, Arizona, died Friday, February 8, 2008 in Mesa, Arizona.


Friend's Funeral

She was a friend of Mike. Upon hearing the sad news on Tuesday 12 February, we decided to drive there to attend the funeral service on Thursday 14 February. Being a long drive (6 hrs) we decided to travel Wednesday 13 February and stayed a night at Holbrook.

It was my first experience of an LDS funeral service and witnesssing the dedication of the grave. I am grateful for that experience.

Strangely it felt more windy and colder during the Concluding Service & Interment at the Woodruff Cementery. Altogether, I had 5 layers of clothes, 2 of which were jackets, on my upper body, and 4 layers of clothes on my lower body! The winds were so strong that I have to hold on the hood of the jacket! My hands were so cold even though it was hidden under Mike's flying gloves. It reminded me of the climb to the peak of Mt Kinabalu (Sabah Malaysia) almost 30 years ago!

Mike braved the weather, wearing his CAP uniform and kilt, playing "Going Home" and "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes, with his bare hands. He was not asked to play for Helen's funeral service. He wanted to. It was the least he could for a departed friend. I was touched.

Sedona

It was past 3 pm. We were in no hurry to drive home to Yuma. We have 4 and an half hours drive left. Since we were passing the city of Sedona, we decided to see the red rocks, one of Arizona's tourist attractions.

The sandstone formations were indeed stunning!

We thought of visiting the original town of Sedona but instead stopped on the way to visit this neat looking craft shop called Son Silver West.

What catches my eyes most are the dried chillis!

I have seen dried chillis being sold in bags and sold by weight, but not hung up in bunches like these!