Desert Aloha LLC

Fred, Elaine, Bruce and I enjoyed attending CYT Tucson's musical, "James and the Giant Peach" this past Thursday. It is always a delight to watch the young adults singing, dancing, acting, and doing acrobats in their amazing costumes with fantastic stage sets. The musicians in the orchestra pit are never seen but without them, there would be no show. They are also very talented individuals!

We were among the first audience to see their performance before the show opened to the public for the weekend. The songs were beautiful, with one particular song that brought tears to my eyes. (I'll see if I can find the song on YouTube and share it on this page.) We didn't get a chance to visit with any of the performers after the show, as we have several times in the past, but we did visit with a gentleman who built the stage sets. He connected with Fred, being that both are Marine Veterans. We look forward to attending next year's musical, "The Sound of Music".

We arrived at Bianchi's Pizza right before the lunch rush. We enjoyed Italian meals and conversations while people watching. The restaurant had quickly filled up without a single seat open.

With extra time on the clock, we decided to visit the newest Bookmans Entertainment Exchange on Stone and Wetmore. We all love bookstores and the three of them hadn't been inside this location. (I had taken my grandma earlier in the year.)

From the entrance and throughout the store, ghosts, Jack-o-lanterns, bats, and skeletons reminded us that Halloween and Dia de Los Mu***os are just a week away. We perused the aisles while Fred sat and looked through a mystery book. We had a chance to listen to a man play on a keyboard and sing in the Music section, and I had the chance to play a couple of classical pieces I had learned 40 years ago.

Another fun day with extra time allowed for us to be a bit spontaneous. Many thanks to volunteer Bruce for joining us. With him and Fred's humorous observations and witty comments, the day was filled with laughter, Elaine and I completely entertained.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

The show is about to start, "James and the Giant Peach" by CYT Tucson. 🍑

Have a great day!

Sharing today's Daily OM in case it might help you or another caregiver you know. ❤️

Daily OM: Rescuing the Rescuer

Some people seem called to help others, often from early on in their childhoods. They respond to the needs of family members, strangers, or animals with an impressive selflessness. While these caregivers can appear to have very few needs of their own as they focus on rescuing, helping, and healing others, there are few people who are truly able to sustain this completely giving lifestyle. The vast majority have needs that lie beneath the surface, unmet. In these cases, their motivation to help others may be in service to a deep desire to heal a wounded part of themselves. They need the kind of love and attention they give on a daily basis to those around them. For any number of reasons, they are unable to give themselves that love, so they give it to others. This does not mean that they are not meant to be helping others, but it does mean that they would do well to turn some of that helping energy within.

One problem with the constant caregiver is that the individual can get stuck in the role, always living in crisis mode at the expense of inner peace and personal growth. Until the person resolves their own inner dramas, they play them out in their relationships with others, drawn to those who need them and often unable to acknowledge their own needs. In the worst-case scenario, they enable the other person’s dilemma by not knowing when to stop playing the rescuer and allow the person to figure it out on their own. However, if the rescuer finds the strength to turn within and face their own needs, they can become a model of empowerment and a true source of healing in the world.

Some signs that you or someone you love may need to rescue the rescuer within are inner burnout from overgiving, underlying resentment, an inability to admit to having needs of one’s own, and an unwillingness to be vulnerable. Help comes when we allow ourselves to admit we need it, acknowledging our humanity and our wholeness by acknowledging our pain. The understanding we gain in the process will naturally inform and inspire our ability to help those in need to do the same.

This past Saturday (10/19), temperatures dropped and Steve, Jeanne, Misty, Elaine, Bruce, and I met up wearing warm jackets. We welcomed the cold, overcast morning, a nice change from days over 90°F, even in October. At Mission Garden: Friends of Tucson's Birthplace, Docent Manetta led us on a guided tour, telling us about the history of this land and how it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. We imagined the Santa Cruz River still flowing and the indigenous people living in pit-houses, and the canals they built, directing the water through the plains to their crop fields. We followed Manetta along the dirt paths as the overcast skies lightly sprinkled on us. She told us about the plants indigenous to this area and the ones brought over from Spain and other parts of the world. We visited gardens that represented the Hohokam people, the Tohono O'odham people, the Spanish, the Chinese, the Africans, and others. Even in mid/late October, colorful flowers were still in bloom and bees were busy at work. The chickens in their spacious coop seemed quite content, especially with our attention. As we headed back to the Visitor Center & Gift Shop, Manetta told us about the various events that take place at Mission Gardens and welcomed us to come to monthly tasting events. Many thanks to Manetta for spending the morning with us and to Claire Hong, the Community Engagement Coordinator, for scheduling our tour.

We had planned to have lunch at Sei's in the courtyard of El Mercado San Augustin but the cold temperature and breeze had us opting for an indoor setting, however, we still wanted Mexican food. Less than a mile away, we went to one of our favorite places, El Minuto Cafe. There, we talked and laughed as we caught up with each other. It was wonderful to have our longtime friend and volunteer Bruce with us, again. Last time we were together, we celebrated his birthday at Arizona Sands Club.

After lunch, we walked over to the El Tiradito Shrine. People come here to light candles and bring flowers in memory of a lost loved one, and to place their written wishes and messages into the small cracks of the wall.

The day warmed up and everyone unanimously voted to go for sundaes, especially since Bruce was treating! So instead of doing more walking up on Sentinel Peak, we went to our favorite Dairy Queen location. There, we pushed the armchairs into a circle and played a trivia game while indulging in sundaes. It was great to realize how much we know, and to learn interesting facts we didn't know.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. And, many thanks to Bruce for his playful, caring and generous presence. We always have fun together! 🚐🌵❤️

Good morning from the Desert Aloha gang. We're off on another adventure. Have a great day!

This past Tuesday, we met with Maxine Krasnow, owner and founder of Tucson Clay Co-op, at one of their newer locations which is incredibly larger than the studio we have been visiting in past years. After a tour of the studio, we joined her in one of the many rooms to make our own clay mug. We made imprints into clay, cut out the circular bottoms for our mugs, and used the "scratch and attach" method to put all the pieces of our clay together. It was a fun project and we can't wait to see them after they've been glazed with the colors of our choosing, and fired. Before leaving the studio, we visited with other potters at work. Many thanks to Maxine for welcoming us to one of her newer locations and leading us in a clay party. (I look forward to returning to play Scrabble in the "Library".)

We drove to the JCC and had a wonderful lunch then sat outside and celebrated Cathy's birthday. We sang Happy Birthday then she opened up her card and we shared apple pie. Like her daughter said, this day was planned as if it were specifically for her. Cathy used to work with clay and she even sold her pieces. Being at Tucson Clay Coop was quite serendipitous. Then coming to the JCC to see the current exhibit in the Art Gallery was also "meant to be". Cathy is a wonderful artist. I know, I've had the pleasure of seeing several of her framed and unframed artwork.

After indulging in the birthday apple pie and Cathy made a birthday speech, we met with Claire Hunter, the Tucson JCC Arts & Culture Engagement Manager. She led us through the current exhibit called "Sculpt". We saw magnificent sculptures of various mediums by local Southern Arizona artists. Claire gave us background information on the artists and their work, having had the opportunity to meet with most of them in order to curate this exhibit. She also led us outside to see several newly acquired sculptures in the Sculpture Garden. With the shade of the trees and the afternoon breeze, it was nice to be outside. Many thanks to Claire for our lovely time together appreciating the works of local artists.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

This past Saturday (10/12), Elaine, Misty, and I had a terrific morning spent at Ignite Sign Art Museum. Monica, co-owner, visited with us outside before we entered. We learned that the museum was celebrating its 6th anniversary that evening with an event open to the public. Inside and out in the back lot, we did a self-guided tour, seeing familiar signs , lit up and unlit, of current and past businesses. We watched Chuck give a demonstration on neon glass bending. He told us about how various colors of neon are produced, how the signs are created, and how the process hasn't changed much over 100 years. We learned that some of the most artistic neon signs are those advertising beer. He took us to look at a couple of neon glass pieces that he created for the museum. There was a magnificent sculpture of colorful neon glass hanging from the ceiling, connected to a board of buttons that corresponded to a hidden organ. When we pressed the buttons, one by one or many at once, parts of the neon sculpture lit up while the notes of an organ sounded throughout the warehouse. We also saw a sign he created that when a quarter is inserted in the meter (luckily, I had a quarter), the sign lit up like fireworks with a big THANKS. We had a wonderful time at the museum, including checking out the gift shop filled with unique items. Many thanks to Monica for scheduling our visit and to her husband Jude, the owner and founder of the museum, who was busy at work restoring more signs.

Lunch at Noodies gave us a chance to exchange stories, and there are so many. Misty and Elaine were pleased to be reminded that both ladies were librarians, getting a kick out of the t-shirt Misty was wearing. "Don't make me use my librarian voice."

Due to the busy lunch hour, we missed our Flandrau planetarium show that began at 12:30 pm. We opt to go for a scenic drive. The women hadn't been up to A Mountain in a while so we drove up to enjoy the views. Elaine took notice of all the new homes that have been built at the foot of the mountain. Misty who didn't want to look out at the city from way up high, turned her head to look when Elaine questioned what the big brown building below was. It wasn't so scary after all, but instead a beautiful sight to see Tucson from this perspective.

We ended our day sitting inside the courtyard at El Mercado San Agustin, eating pastries and drinking tea from La Estrella bakery (which in my opinion is the best Mexican bakery in town), and people watching. The cutest person we saw was a little girl dressed up as Snow White. Another fun and beautiful day trip!

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

The morning at the Tucson Botanical Gardens was glorious. As we perused through the shaded paths of the gardens, we appreciated the fall and Halloween themed displays. We stopped along the way to sit and admire the tall trees which made us reminisce about the trees in the states where we grew up -- Elaine in Ohio, Steve in Indiana, Renée in Nebraska, and me in Florida. We also sat and played a game of Checkers. It had been many years since any of us had played, but the rules came back to us quickly. To everyone's surprise, Elaine and I as a team won!

We stopped to see the art exhibit in one of the buildings. There were ceramic sculptures and paintings using wax and resin. We also read about the history of TBG. Afterwards, we visited "Butterfly Magic" which reopened on October 1st. We saw butterflies from the rainforest regions of the world, and admired the tropical flowers. It is fantastical to have the butterflies fluttering all around, even brush up against us. But none landed on any of us this time.

We ate lunch at Edna's Eatery on the Garden's property. We enjoyed our lunch and had a chance to meet Chef Carlos. We also called Bruce, our longtime friend and volunteer, on FaceTime. We laughed as we told Halloween jokes!

The Great Garden Express was the last exhibit we saw before leaving. One of the volunteers talked to us about the trains, the building of the tracks, and the college students who built the miniature historic buildings. It was incredible to walk through this exhibit and have trains running below, alongside, and above us, and see a waterfall!

Our last two hours was spent bowling at Lucky Strike. What a thrill! Elaine began the first game with a strike. After that, everyone was motivated to get strikes and spares. Renée won the first game with multiple strikes, surprising even herself! Elaine won the second game, happy to be bowling again. We all played pretty well (with the help of the bumpers. Shhhh!)

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. Many thanks to Renée for her assistance and being a great friend to all of us. ❤️

On Saturday, we spent our morning at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. We learned about the history of Chinese residents and their impact in the Tucson community -- from their part in building the railroads to the many grocery stores they opened to their military service throughout the United States of America's history, starting from the Civil War. Jeanne was fascinated to see the number of high ranking Chinese women in the military. After exploring the historical displays in the library and the hallways, we joined a few other Tucsonans for an hour of Qi Gong and Tai Chi. It was a first time experience for Jeanne, Steve, Renée and me. The instructor, who is a professional dancer and artist and who is currently working on her PhD at the University of Arizona, explained the purpose of both then led us through mindful breathing and the slow martial arts movements of five animals: tiger, deer, bear, monkey, and bird. These movements had us stretching, working on our balance, strengthening our muscles, and calming our mind. Before leaving, a TCCC member Helen told us a little more about the Chinese influences in Tucson then took us outside to see pieces of the railroad that are being preserved on the property. We each left with a pen, and Steve took a photo with a lion dance costume and Jeanne took a photo with a replica of a terra cotta soldier.

We enjoyed lunch, conversations, and the service at China Szechwan. It's always fun to read our fortune cookies out loud when we go for Chinese. Everyone wants to come back to try to the Peking duck and fried fish.

Originally we were planning to spend time outdoors at Reid Park, but with temperatures still over 100°F, we returned to The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. We had missed the "Stages of Imagination: The Icons Broadway Designs of David Korins" by a week, last month, so we returned to see this magnificent exhibit. We learned about the creative process and hard work it takes to build the stage sets for musicals. This exhibit is a must see and it is up until May 2025. Before leaving the museum, Jeanne and I visited the Enchanted Realm to see the miniatures decorated for Halloween.

Another day of learning, keeping our minds and body active, sharing stories, making memories, and acknowledging the magic and mystery of life and living.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

This past Saturday (9/28), we relaxed under the shade of Aspen and pine trees, breathing in cool mountain air, and enjoyed all the festivities of Oktoberfest in Ski Valley, Mt. Lemmon. Like last year, we listened to the Musik-Meisters play traditional German polkas and waltzes in their dirndl and lederhosen clothing while people and dog watching. So many dogs attended and we had the chance to visit with a couple of them. This was extra-special for Elaine who was missing her dog, Havoc. ❤️🐾

Unlike last year, we didn't link arms with other attendees to do the Chicken Dance out on the dance floor; rather, we did it in our seats. After all, we had to burn off the delicious bratwurst, German potato salad, sauerkraut, and red cabbage, not to mention, homemade fudge that volunteer Mark treated us all to. (Thanks, Mark!)

After being mostly sedentary, we drove to Butterfly Trailhead to go for a nature walk. The leaves were barely turning yellow. Soon enough, they'll be the autumn colors of red, orange, and brown. 🍂🍁🍂

The weather was amazing in the 70s, thirty degrees cooler than Tucson. We wished we could stay a little longer, but we made our descent down the Catalina Mountains, watching the temperature climb next to my odometer to a whopping 108°F when we reached the basin.

What a marvelous day in the mountains with Jeanne, Steve, Elaine and awesome volunteers, Renée and Mark.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

Great news: Desert Aloha is now an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau Serving Southern Arizona.

If you had/have a loved one who benefited from my programs and day trips, or you have spent some time with our group, I welcome you to please write a review:
https://www.bbb.org/us/az/tucson/profile/senior-services/desert-aloha-llc-1286-20125572/customer-reviews -a-review

As always, thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. ❤️

Many thanks to Casa de la Luz Hospice - Tucson for last night's beautiful Celebration of Life, under the night sky. Each white light on the table, in our hands, and hanging above us represented those who passed away in their care between March 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024; my maternal grandma, Manh Nguyen, among them. I am so grateful to the hospice team that visited every week, sometimes twice a week, during the last four months of my grandma's life; notably RN Maya and Chaplain Mary Lynn. Like me, Mary Lynn was born in Saigon, Vietnam. She came every week to hold my grandma's hand, speak in Vietnamese, walk with her, and exchange hugs and kisses. Mary Lynn and Maya were like two additional grandchildren whom my Ba Ngoai looked forward to seeing, receiving their calm and comfort which my grandma needed and appreciated.

When the poem "The Dash" was read, I reflected on the years that I had shared of Ba Ngoai's 95 years. Tears flowed down my face as I remembered her smile, laughter, touch, songs she sang, stories she told, and meals she prepared from the garden she kept...her abundant and unconditional love. I thought about the first part of "the dash" in her life, some known and some unknown and will never be known. Despite the many hardships, tragedies, and traumas she faced, she never gave up; she persevered with determination, hope and faith, because she knew that life is a precious gift, and in it, the people she loved with all her heart, no matter what...her parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends whom were family to her.

I am reminded from the poem and memories of my grandma, to make my "dash" meaningful and memorable.

Thank you again to the Casa de La Luz hospice team and to everyone who shared a moment of your life with my grandma. You brought love and light into her precious life. 🙏🏻❤️🌟

Although it was warmer than we had anticipated, especially being the second day of autumn (9/24), we still enjoyed the 45-minute tram tour up and down Sabino Canyon. We loved the views of the cacti and various trees, the big boulders and rock formations, the small pools in the mostly dried up creek, and the butterflies. Half of our group also witnessed a family of coati mundi as our tram crossed a bridge. Aggie said she counted 7 -- babies with the mama following behind. Jeanne recalled a time when cars were allowed to drive up into Sabino Canyon and she would hike and camp. After the tram ride, we went inside the Visitor Center and watched a video and checked out the displays about plant and animal life in the area. We were grateful for the air conditioning too.

We had a wonderful time at Eclectic Cafe, sitting in a corner booth, sharing stories. Fred and Steve, our Veterans, kept making us laugh with their jokes and witty comments. The sandwiches, soups, and salads were delicious, and to top off lunch, we shared a key lime pie that Renée raved about. Yes, it was divine. We learned that key lime pie originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century.

We ended our afternoon at the Udall Senior Center playing two rounds of pool. Fred was the best player in our group, but then again, he used to have a Brunswick pool table in his basement. Samantha, friend and longtime staff member of Udall, came over to visit with us. She is very kind to post Desert Aloha's monthly schedule on their community bulletin board every month.

Another fun day passed too quickly!

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

Many thanks to Michael Muscarello, The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures museum specialist, for scheduling our guided tour with dear friend and docent, Rochelle. We had the chance to see a select few miniatures from three sections of the museum: the History Gallery, Contemporary Gallery, and the Enchanted Realm; as well as a couple of other temporary exhibits. Unfortunately, we were too early for the "Stages of Imagination: The Iconic Broadway Designs of David Korins" which will be opening to the public on September 20th. It'll be on exhibit until May 31, 2025 so we have time to return to see it. It is always a magical experience to be among the miniatures and learn about the start of the museum, thanks to Pat and Walter Arnell, the late founders. Many thanks to Rochelle for taking the time in her busy retired life schedule to give us a tour on a Saturday morning.

We enjoyed delicious and healthy Chinese meals from Guilin Chinese Restaurant. We enjoyed each other's company, the food, and reading our fortunes from the fortune cookies.

Afterwards we went to the Columbus Library where we had a program on the Mid Autumn Moon Festival, the second most important holiday in many Asian cultures. This year it lands on Tuesday, September 17th. We took turns reading out loud the story about the Lady of the Moon and the traditions that take place during this festival. In honor of this holiday which takes place in many countries that use the lunar calendar, we read poems about the moon, drew on colorful paper lanterns, and sampled a lotus seed moon cake (which I purchased at Costco in a lovely tin box). We loved the cake so much that both Misty and Elaine had a second wedge.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

Happy Mid Autumn Moon Festival! If anyone is interested, there will be a celebration that is free to the public this Saturday the 21st at St. Frances Cabrini Church, from 5 pm - 9:30 pm.

Fun fact: My Vietnamese name is Thu Hang, "Autumn Moon". I am named after this holiday. 🌕🏮

What a treat to be able to view the football field from way up high, from the Arizona Sands Club. ❤️💙🐾

We had a full minivan for our day of honoring UA Sports! We welcomed new participant, Fred, and dear volunteer, Bruce. It is always wonderful to reintroduce everyone, refreshing our memories of where each one of us were born, where we grew up, the careers we had, our families and hobbies, and celebrating our commonalities and differences.

We had a fantastic guided tour of the Hall of Champions with The University of Arizona Athletics Department staff member, Ceileigh. We learned about the history of the UA, the various sports that are offered as well as the ones that were discontinued, the players that went on to play professionally and in the Olympics, about head coaches who made history, and much more. It was Ceileigh's first time giving a tour and she did so marvelously. Thanks so much, Ceileigh. Like Jeanne, Elaine, Steve, and me, she is a UA Alumni. Go Cats!! ❤️💙🐾

We spent the rest of our day having lunch and doing a sports program overlooking the UA football field in Arizona Sands Club. We read interesting facts about the UA sports and athletes, most of which we learned during our tour, and we answered trivia questions. What a smart group we are!! After our wonderful lunch, we each received a football and a palate of red, white and blue paint. A section of the football was our canvas. It was fun! We also had the chance to go outside and look down at the football field, taking photos, of course.

Many thanks to Desert Aloha friend, Mark Letcher, for arranging our afternoon as special guests. Thanks to Michael Blue and his staff, especially Josh, for the excellent service, delicious meals, and divine desserts, as we also celebrated Bruce's birthday. Everyone is requesting to come back again soon.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha! 🚐🌵❤️

Misty, Elaine, Renée and I had a wonderful time spent at the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block this past Saturday.

Many thanks to Nicholas Castor, Education Coordinator of TMA, for scheduling our guided tour with marvelous Docent Ardus. She had us engaging in conversations about a select few pieces from the current exhibit, "Time Travelers: Foundations, Transformations, and Expansions at the Centennial".

Afterwards, we walked over to Cafe a la C'Art / Carte Blanche Catering where we enjoyed a delicious lunch and exceptional service. Owner Mark Jorbin stopped by to visit with us. It's always a pleasure to catch up with him and be blessed with his and his staffs' smiles and beautiful energy.

In the afternoon, Nicholas met us in the art museum lobby. He not only came in on his day off but he also opened the art education center for us, leading us in art making. We painted clay beads and clay bird figurines. We turned them into keychains and necklaces. we loved our fun and creative time spent together while we listened to Billy Joel playing on my iPhone.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

Many thanks to Nick and Kathy Jo at Tandy Leather for instructing us in a fun leather craft workshop this past Tuesday. We stamped and stained leather bookmarks and wristbands. Aggie and Steve made personalized bookmarks for their spouses and we all made personalized wristbands for ourselves. Renée remembered the first time she had volunteered for Adventure Bus, we had come here and made coin purses. Lots of good memories made at Tandy Leather over the last 10+ years!

The four of us enjoyed the soups, salads, breadsticks and our pasta dishes at Olive Garden Broadway Blvd, Tucson AZ. Afterwards, we perused Seasoned Woman, appreciating all the beautiful gift items inside this store.

We finished our day at the Udall Senior Citizens Center where we played two rounds of billiards. It was a great time, especially with Steve always showing off his cool moves, like shooting with the cue stick from behind him.

No matter the group size, we have fun and meaningful times together.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️

Those who purchased tickets, friends of Desert Aloha and the outreach program Adventure Bus that I used to run, see you all this afternoon.

Our Luau next Saturday is all sold out! Thank you so much for all your support.

We welcomed a new participant, Elaine, and were happy to see Aggie after her absence for a couple of months. The six of us women -- Cathy, Misty, Renée, Elaine, Aggie and me (Angela) spent the morning at the African American Museum of Southern Arizona with two exceptional women, Jenny and Rose. Docents Jenny and Rose took turns telling us about how the museum got its start (thanks to Beverly and Bob Elliot's 7-year old grandson, Jody), the African American children, women, and men who made a great impact in our community, the USA, and worldwide, among them, several of Rose's family members. There is so much history in this one-room-museum in the UA Student Union. It is filled with beautiful displays, paintings, sculptures, photographs, books, two Underground Railroad quilts, and headphones at several of the exhibits to listen to oral history told firsthand by African Americans of Southern Arizona. We finished our 90-minute tour admiring the displays of ornate hats and the C.R.O.W.N. Act. The hats brought back memories for the women in our group. Some remember their grandmas wearing hats like these, adorned with rhinestones, beads, embroidery, silk flowers, and tulle, and some said they wore hats like these to church on Easter Sunday. The C.R.O.W.N. Act stands for "Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair" is a law that prohibits racial discrimination based on natural textures and protective hairstyles, which was passed last March 17, 2023 in Arizona. We were appalled to learn that people used to not be hired or get fired because they had dreadlocks or they had an Afro. Upon leaving, Jenny gave us each a gold crown as a souvenir of our visit. The shiny gold crowns upon our heads evoked smiles as we walked through the Student Union to the parking garage. We were also given little bags of candy with a AAMSAZmagnet put together by Jody, grandson of Beverly and Bob Elliot's (the founders of the museum). Many thanks to Docents Jenny and Rose for our educational, enlightening and fun visit. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm. Everyone is welcome.

We spent the second half of our time together at Brother John's Beer, Bourbon & BBQ. Our spacious yet intimate booth allowed for us to be heard over the music playing on speakers, to talk about where we've lived, the work we've done, share stories, and eat a delicious lunch of salad, Mac and cheese, pulled pork tacos and sandwiches, and share a huge basket of perfectly seasoned fries. After lunch, our server Madison cleared the table so we could do an arts and craft project. Inspired by African fabric designs and colors, we used acrylic paint to decorate square shaped ceramic plates. When we finished, Cathy and I took them outside to spray a thick acrylic gloss coating on them. We let them dry while we played trivia. Misty, whom we called "Queen Misty" since she chose to continue wearing her crown (and we were her "humble servants") got the closest answer to the question: How many countries does the equator pass through? The answer is 13. Misty said 12, while the rest of thought it was surely more.

Misty and Elaine bonded over the fact that they both received degrees in Library Sciences. Everyone was impressed that Cathy climbed power poles while she worked for Idaho Power. Aggie said she loved going back to school and working as a legal assistant once her four children had grown up. And, Renée's decision to go back at school to become a music therapist, after she retired from working in the insurance industry, is always inspiring to hear. I am always humbled and honored to be among my new and old Desert Aloha friends, each person inspires me.

Thank you for being a part of Desert Aloha. 🚐🌵❤️