As we departed Laughlin, I asked Lynn an educational question. "Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? I have a free pass, and it is a short drive. The reservations for Sedona are guaranteed, and we can enjoy Mother Nature."
Lynn responded, "No, I have never been to the Grand Canyon and would like to visit. It would be fun."
"Since that's the case, we must go shoe shopping," I said.
"Great, I love to shop for shoes."
Lynn was excited about shopping, but I had to clarify that we would not buy stilettos. Instead, we went to a discount sporting goods store for hiking shoes and cushion socks. Lynn stuck her tongue out at me and thought her hiking shoes looked dorky. I explained that they were made for hiking on rocky trails, protection, and comfort, not fashion.
Finally, we were ready to go to the Canyon, and the ride went by quickly. She was anxious to see the Canyon in person, and even though I had been there a half-dozen times, the place never disappointed me.
At first, Lynn was apprehensive; it was a long way to the bottom. She adjusted and enjoyed our hike along the Rim Trail. She wanted to go to El Tovar for a snack and souvenir shopping. Lynn loved the views from the hotel's patio, so we proceeded to the Yavapai Observation Deck and Mather Point. It was a peaceful, calm, and romantic stroll. It allowed us to walk alone and enjoy the scenery.
I looked at her, grabbed Lynn's hand tightly, and said, "I Love You."
She instantaneously stopped, her eyes widened, and she teared up. "Do you realize that is the first time you've ever told me you loved me?"
"It won't be the last, I promise."
Lynn kissed me passionately, wrapping her hands around my neck. A few tears fell on my cheek, and I held her tight. The Canyon was Grand.
"Let's go back on the road to Sedona."
The trip to Sedona was uneventful. We traveled through the small towns along I-40, Flagstaff, and finally, Sedona. Ironically, we stayed at a B&B with all the bells and whistles. We were close to downtown for Lynn's shopping fetish, a place to dine, and fantastic views of the Red Rocks. The two-night stay would be enjoyable. We went to a place featuring Southern cuisine for dinner and split a bar-b-q platter that featured great brisket. It was a no-booze night, and we drank Prickly Pear Lemonade.
As the waiter finished serving dinner, I whispered to Lynn, "I love you." She gave me a big smile, winked, and said, "I love you, too." We ate and strolled back to our BnB. The weather had changed. The wind was blowing, and the temperature had dropped ten degrees. It was time for a fire in the fireplace. We needed sleep.
The following day, after breakfast, we traveled to Prescott. The drive was gorgeous, with red rocks, pine forests, and Prescott's famous Whiskey Row entertainment District. We walked the town, got a couple of real estate magazines, and explored the residential areas. It was a lovely town but pricey.
After five hours, we returned to Sedona, where we were giving the town a whirlwind tour. Sedona was a desert town trapped in the 1960s. It's known for its vortices of energy, healing, and meditation. The artist colony is large and has many mediums of expression.
I told Lynn that it gets cold here and that you must dress accordingly. When we returned to our humble abode, there was only one thing to do: SEX. This was our stand-by answer for everything.