We left Tucson with a sigh yesterday, fond goodbyes to relatives (Wynn and Alfredo), one early trip to the airport to drop friends off (Gordy and Lynda), and continued appreciation for the warm weather here in Arizona, hovering around 70. Within one week, we cooked and baked and cleaned and toiled with amazing results: Alfredo's unforgettable Turkey and oyster stuffing, cornbread stuffing, garlic-mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and the rest fades into oblivion before the pies, Wynn's fabulous cookies, and the conversations between football games. The table groaned and so did our tummies before we finished with justice to all. I think we left a pie behind in our little bed and breakfast, but I knew some cookies made it to the airport for Gordy and Lynda's trip to Philadelphia.

Within one short week in Tucson, we experienced Thanksgiving, and visits to the University of Arizona's Center for Creative Photography, the Arizona State Museum, the Arizona Zoo (see the lion's reaction to Thanksgiving), Fourth Street, the Heard Museum, the Amerind Archaeological Museum, Tohono Chul, the Sonora Desert Museum, the mission chuch at San Xavier del Bac, and Fourth Street. I found mermaids everywhere in every time, including an outrageous mermaid costume at a thrift store on Fourth Street (don't worry; it stayed there).

We're back now with good internet connections. Thursday, last night, my computer was tied up with the streaming live Packers vs. Cowboys so graciously provided by Sprint via internet. We laughed, we cried, and we finally, finally slept. This morning we leave for Carlsbad Caverns. It's raining off and on, a perfect day for hiking into the bowels of the earth. May it be a good week for you all! Beth