In this economy, its hard to imagine anyone having enough time or money to afford a week long trip to the West Coast during the school year. With a summer vacation road trip traveling across the country to the Grand Canyon and back already etched in my families distant memory, I didn’t think anything could compare. However, thanks to my extended family, most of our expenses were covered, opening the door for a memorable week in paradise.
Even getting lost and paying the same toll twice on 2 different scenic toll roads couldn’t damper my spirits, uplifted by the view of the Pacific in the background and the pictures engraved in my mind of the Coachella Valley from my honeymoon 17 years ago. A trip to Indian Canyons, the largest oasis in the world, was like going back in time to the days of Adam and Eve walking in the Garden of Eden. Hiking on these trails and similar vistas on the Lykkan Trail above Palm Springs was like re-enacting Moses’ voyage up Mount Nebo to see the Promised Land before his death.
My first trip to the Salton Sea, playing disc golf in Palm Desert and experiencing Monterey Country Club from the fairway, yes I did hit it straight, was like the icing on top of a birthday cake. However, like the classic line from Jerry Maguire, my vacation wasn’t complete until family arrived. As nearly 100 relatives came to La Quinta to honor Uncle Tom’s 80th birthday, the conversations I had, interactions with others and time spent with my own family completed me. Simply put, this trip was like a tiny glimpse of heaven, a week of paradise in sunny California.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 