There are times when capturing photos becomes secondary to getting to a place, especially when leaving later in the day.
We were heading into the California desert with Jutta to her second favorite place in America, Death Valley.
Leaving The Grand Canyon
The last photo of Caroline and her mom at the Grand Canyon and while sad on one hand, there are a thousand incredible memories shared here at the edge of this vast place of wonder.
Christmas Day at the Grand Canyon
While it might have pained Jutta to rise so early on freezing cold days, there’d be no missing sunrise in the Grand Canyon. There weren’t many photos taken and shared across these posts as on previous visits to the United States; we made every opportunity to capture the moments of my mother-in-law in every new place she visited. This trip was not only her last, but due to the hip she broke earlier in the year, her mobility wasn’t the best, so we just took things easy.
Of the other photos of our day spent along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, this is the only one that really mattered.
Just spending time with Jutta was enough and really, that was all she ever wanted anyway. Well, that and to laugh.
As it grew late in the day, we took in as much of the sunset as we could before heading in for an early dinner and sitting around chatting on Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve at the Grand Canyon
It’s Christmas Eve, as we arrive late in the afternoon to catch the sunset in the Grand Canyon National Park.
This is Jutta’s first Christmas visit to the Grand Canyon of the nearly 12 times she’s been to this park during the ten trips she’s made to America. The Grand Canyon was a dream come true for her, and she’s never bored in her many visits, but sadly this is her last time here. When we made this journey up north for the occasion, we were aware of my mother-in-law’s growing physical weakness as she’s 78 years old in this photo, but the other part of the situation that’s looming is her declining memory. I can’t help but look at this photo and now see it as a toast to all the incredible times the three of us have spent together over the years her daughter has lived so far away. I’d give anything to see this old lady in the El Tovar once more for dinner and to wake up the next morning for sunrise over one of her favorite places in the world. Fröhliche Weihnachten forever, Jutta.
Christmas Lights
Two weeks pass and nothing much has happened. While Jutta busies herself and Caroline is at her office, I’m busy learning everything I can about virtual reality. Caroline’s birthday was celebrated a little more than a week ago and this evening we are out looking at Christmas Lights.
Psychedelic Paintball Cow Finds Enlightenment – TimefireVR
Today, we tripped into a new light-bending paradigm, secret software with a secret sauce that we have to remain mum about. This is literally the very first thing we painted with it, and we’ve only scratched the surface or etched its Normals if you are of the 3D digital artist persuasion. We’d love to tell you more, but maybe we’ve already shared too much. A new kind of fun will arrive next year, and it will blow plenty of minds, and all without the benefit of drugs.