Escapeseeker

Being raised and spoiled by Southern California’s own beach, “Riviera,” desert destinations were never the ones to top my “100 places to see before I die” list! And, who knew that on the edge of Scottsdale and Phoenix’s bustling city life, in an area appropriately called Paradise Valley, I would find 53 breathtaking acres of pure sun drenched Arizona desert that would allow this tired and weary traveler as much relaxation, serenity, and tranquility that I could possibly handle!

The minute I turned into the desertscape-designed driveway of The Sanctuary I was greeted by several tanned smiling faces (who appeared oblivious to the heat) asking me if I would like a nice cold bottle of water even before checking in. Within minutes I was guided to my own weekend ‘mountain casita’ terraced naturally into the rugged slope of the mountain. Right away my Hollywood stiletto shoes were flung aside. What was I thinking? I instantly grabbed for my comfy summer flats. The steep location of my little casita afforded me a beautiful postcard perfect view of Paradise Valley complete with its imposing and shifting mountain silhouette that reached peak beauty at sunset—absolutely worth the price of my daily mini-trek up and down to the resort’s base where many amenities awaited.

Desert Zen

The mountain casita is its own sanctuary and self-enclosed villa. It comes complete with feather beds and large bathrooms appointed with showers and tubs for those long after hours soak, but let’s face it—beautiful interiors are easy to come by in top resort destinations. What truly sets the Sanctuary apart is an almost inexplicable feeling of nature’s balance- one that touches your spirit and reminds you of the most important priorities in life. Some people may associate words like barren, lifeless, and dead of heat to the desert. But, the Sanctuary has created an intimate retreat utilizing life affirming architecture complete with meditation garden, reflecting ponds, watsu pool, indoor and outdoor treatment rooms all united with what nature generously offers—the overwhelming views.

It’s truly Zen-like and then some. It has extracted the refined elements commonly associated with exclusive spa resorts in Asia and brought them to the Arizona desert! Among its Asian-inspired treatments is Luk Pra Kope, which I immediately booked. Luk Pra Kope is a Thai expression that means “to massage with medicinal herbs.” It is exactly what my jet-lagged body needed. I learned the treatment has been used in Thailand for centuries.

My therapist began by soaking my feet in a fresh lime and essential-oil bath, and then followed it up with an exfoliation treatment using fine, white clay and fresh lime. And if that wasn’t blissful enough, it was combined with Thai massage—a medicinal blend of steamy, organically grown herbs, rolled, and massaged and pressed into my aching tight muscles and other problem areas which she had inquired about even before my treatment began. The heated compress soothes, enhances circulation, and reduces joint stiffness and before I knew it, my stresses just drifted away, and I found myself drifting into “never never land” as my treatment lasted 120 minutes. The indoor/outdoor layout of the spa allowed for what landscapers call “borrowed landscape” compliments of mother nature. You can hear the birds chirping—it was so pleasant that I had to ask at first if it was coming from the therapist CD. The only drawback—with access to the outdoors, I learned that you might end up with a souvenir or two—a la mosquito also looking for his desert escape!

Iron Chef Delights

What more of the uniquely unexpected can I experience during my visit to the Arizona desert? Well, I decided after having such a restful experience, I was ready to venture out. But not before I sample some of Elements’ celebrated Chef Beau’s signature dishes. As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, take one look at this pan seared wild king salmon dish, presented with bok choy, udon noodles, snow peas, and just a touch of sesame and ginger, and tell me if you are not just salivating. It tasted even better than this photo conveys. I was not surprised to learn that Chef Beau (MacMillan) recently dethroned Iron Chef America’s Grill Master, Bobby Flay on the popular hit reality TV show, Iron Chef! Also, if you should ever find yourself dining poolside by the Sanctuary’s peaceful infinity pool, remember to order the seared ahi salad with avocado and ginger vinaigrette. It’s tasty and light—just the right blend to keep your swimsuit fitting sleek.

Ballet Stars Aglow

Rested and nourished, now, I was definitely ready to explore Arizona’s bustling Camelback valley. I quickly discovered that these desert communities, richly connected by one emerald green golf course after another, are also rich in culture—so I decided to take in Ballet Arizona’s world premiere performance entitled, PLAY. This ballet program described by Arizona Republic’s dance critic as ‘7-courses of artistic delight that both plays with its name and plays off it.”

The first-half illuminates the brilliant artistic direction of the lighting director as the dancers begin in a star-lit stage to Mozart’s variations of “Twinkle Twinkle little Star” and builds in seriousness to the passionate heat of a pas de deux by Ballet Arizona’s danseur, Astrit Zejnati and ballerina, Natalia Magnicaballi. Dressed in the briefest of costumes, Zejnaati and Magnicaballi dance entwining their bodies slowly and sinuously, never breaking body contact. As Richard Nilsen of the Arizona Republic notes, “…there is nothing vulgar or salacious about this dance; it is refined and aesthetic but, like the best art, manages to remind us that art is ultimately about the facts of life.”

If you’ve noted a definite international flavor to the names of Ballet Arizona’s dancers—they’re representative of the caliber of global talents at Ballet Arizona. Internationally admired both as a dancer and choreographer, Danish born, Ib Anderson, Ballet Arizona’s Artistic Director, has no qualms about recruiting the best dancers from all corners of the world as well as its own backyard. And, it is clear that this Ballet Company is deep in talent and support. Drawing from Scottsdale, Phoenix, and other nearby desert communities, the packed house at Phoenix’s Symphony Hall illustrates how much they’re truly appreciated by the community.

Perhaps it’s because Ballet Arizona’s community involvement extends beyond Symphony Hall. With programs like Ballet Under The Stars, a series of free performances in community parks Valley-wide, they bring classical and contemporary ballet to a wider and more diverse audience—many of whom experience ballet for the first time. In addition, their Community Angel Nights partners Ballet Arizona with family and children’s service agencies to provide magical experiences of live ballet at no cost for the children and their families who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

But just in case the dancers’ delicate forms aren’t enough to give you goose bumps the live music by the Phoenix Symphony under conductor Timothy Russell, surely will. He is known to music critics as an artist that “brings an intellectual curiosity to everything he does…versatility and virtuosity…Russell’s infectious enthusiasm, knack for innovation, and artistic sensibility have inspired support vital to the continued success of any artistic enterprise.

My weekend retreat to the Arizona desert fulfilled more than just my need to find ‘a place of refuge’ – it was a feast for the mind, body, and soul. I drove away with my spirits renewed and as I took one final look towards the Sanctuary, three beautiful ballerinas were poised in an outdoor Yoga class. The Sanctuary is a desert haven for those living inside and outside of the desert.

I hope you have an opportunity to experience this desert haven, where the staff is as warm as the Arizona sun!

Onward now, to more blissful escapes for 2008,

Escapeseeker, Mel
*****

Getting there:

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain is located eight miles north of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport and less than five minutes from downtown Scottsdale.

For your own desert escape experience at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, contact:

Reservations: 1-800-245-2051
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain
5700 East McDonald Drive
Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253

www.sanctuaryaz.com

For Ballet Arizona tickets and info:

Ballet Arizona Box Office
+1 602 381 1096
www.balletaz.org

Have a BEAUTIFUL week,

Mel

On Monday, it was my turn to pick up where they left off. That was the deal–Mama and Papa Noakes would prepare the nursery and supply the babies’ furniture–and Mama Mel and Papa Roy would supply all the beddings and all the remaining decorative touches. It seemed like a really good deal…I was going to get to do the easy part right? I flew in from Texas and arrived around 10:00 pm on Monday. Christina eagerly awaited my arrival. Not only did I arrive to decorate and finish the nursery, but also to keep her company while Shelby was in Park City, Utah at his annual T-mobile company retreat. I basically had three solid days to finish the task at hand and would depart on Friday morning, just hours before Shelby returned.

Being Blissfully Miserable

Today, as I relive the experience, I felt compelled to share it with all of you, my loyal blog readers. And, I’m going to start by giving you the ending. I returned back to Texas Friday afternoon, climbed into bed, with every bone in my little body aching, my neck unable to turn to the right, and as I laid in my bed I thought of how BLISSFULLY miserable I felt. I just had to laugh, and as I began to recollect all that had transpired, it begs the question, “Why am I so gleefully grateful for this experience, even as I lay here aching all over from sifting through every baby store in the entire Phoenix shopping landscape to find the perfect bedding, and then getting home and washing every single item to make sure that they were free of any alien invisible microbe that might have been transmitted while they were being constructed in China (have you noticed everything is made in China) before installing it into our new rearranged baby furniture (guess who had to rearrange it–since I couldn’t really say, “Hey Chrissy, can you grab the other end?). I hauled the new perfect rug into the house–it was tying all of those perfect baby hues together…and honestly, our goal was to have a really ‘happy” baby nursery, and oh my gosh, it was definitely looking really happy. Chrissy and Shelby also have the blessing of having truly generous friends who brought them bags and bags of baby clothes, barely worn by their own set of twins. So, it was a perfect plan, we would wash all of them and then hang them individually in each of the waiting rods, according to size and color. Well, let’s just say Baby B’s pink side definitely doesn’t need any more clothes until next year! Chrissy was a huge help for this segment because she could just sit on the floor and fold these tiny itty bitty t-shirts and pajamas and the cutest outfits only serious baby boutique shoppers can buy! Each time we hung an outfit, it was accompanied with “OHHHH SO CUTE!” We were in heaven, and of course, everything had that wonderful baby scent made possible by Dreft baby detergent. Every now and then I had to stop and just savour the moment…I couldn’t believe I was getting an opportunity to do this…Who knew, fast forward, 29 years later, that I would be lying in bed after the completion of this task, and smiling from ear to ear, even with its accompanying aches and pains. Before I closed my tired eyes, while rubbing the bottom of my aching feet on the soft cool sheets, and burrowed further into my thick duvet, I said, “Thank you Heavenly Father for enabling me to be in Arizona and granting me such a priceless experience.” Those words of gratitude were not only spoken because of this specific experience shared with Chrissy these last three days, but an expression of gratitude for the journey I’ve had being Christina’s mother. God knew this is what I meant…thank you for a journey that really began seven months before she was even born, on December 1979. That December, was clearly one of the most difficult months of my life, one of those “refiner’s fire” moments when my entire character constitution was tested. That December of 1979, I made a decision that enables me now to reap the rewards of a faithful heart.

A Deep Dark December…I learned to follow my heart…and rely on the power of prayer

What was that decision? It was the decision to NOT abort the baby I was carrying, despite urgent advise from renowned medical experts to do so due to the state of my ill health at the time of my conception. I will spare you the details, but I can remember the very day I was told this news as if it was just yesterday. I even remember the drive home alone in my car, huge tears just streaming down my face, while weaving in and out of LA traffic. I can remember that very moment, but I can’t remember how I actually made it home. I could barely see through the tears. I asked God, “Is my life not already difficult enough as it is, that I have to be faced with this for the next seven months? In 1979, I was on the staff of Chancellor Young, the head of UCLA. I was also the only breadwinner in the family because my husband was a full time student, continuing his graduate work in Orthodontics at UCLA. We also were already the parents of two little toddlers, 19 months apart, Joanna 3, and Miristi not even 2! And the sudden news of “No you’re not going to die, but by the way, you’re pregnant… Oh, one more item…after much collaboration (among UCLA MD’s) we don’t think you should continue with the pregnancy!” The lesson learned that day? If you think things are tough, remember, they can always get tougher!

I was sobbing on the drive home because even though I told them I would consult with my husband and return with a decision, I already knew even before I left the medical office that there is no way I could abort this two-month old fetus growing within me…I knew all I could from that day onward– for the next seven months–was pray that I would be granted the strength to handle whatever was in store for us.

And, for the next seven months that followed that is exactly what I did: PRAY and PRAY CONTINUOUSLY ! Sometimes at work, sometimes in the car, you name the place, I’ve probably prayed there too. And as my belly grew, I would often rub it to see if I could feel a foot, a hand, something that could assuage my fears. And it was probably a good thing that I had so much to do, still working full time at UCLA, two toddlers to prepare for daycare every morning, and pick-up after work…there were days when I could barely walk up the stairs to our tiny apartment. Miristi who was still just a baby herself, would grab her highchair and push it towards the table and say, “Food Mama!” The days were long for everybody. But relief from all of this was just around the corner. Dr. Gee’s graduate studies were soon coming to a close, and he had already chosen the tiny town of Pleasant Grove, Utah to open his orthodontic practice. He was coming home to his native Utah. We purchased a home in advance for our arrival into Utah, and because of the concerns of complications during my delivery, I found an OB and a neonatal specialist in Utah. Can you imagine, establishing a new home, a new practice, and being 9 months pregnant too? (Makes preparing Chrissy’s nursery seem like a cruise huh?)

An Answered Prayer

On June 25, 1980, Christina was born! I was so afraid I kept my eyes tightly closed, until Dr. Bigler said, “Mel, open your eyes…take a look…she’s perfect!” I sobbed and sobbed. All the nurses were so happy…they loved her instantly…with her heart-shaped face and lots of dark hair which they would comb and part, and place two bows on either side…sometimes purple, sometimes pink…but they changed her bows every day. My faith had been rewarded. I placed all my faith in God, and not in the wisdom of these learned men, whom I know were just trying to look out for my “mental health”…and seriously there were days when I came close to losing it…but I hung on because there were already two little ones counting one me, saying, “Food Mama!”

I named her Christina after the Christ whose name I prayed to on her behalf. (Instead of her father’s suggestion of Penny (because her face was shaped like a penny) and Pleasant (because we now resided in Pleasant Grove). He agreed that Christina was a better choice.

29 years later, here were are, awaiting Christina’s own miracles to arrive. And as before, we continue to spend time on our knees in fervent prayer. May Christina and Shelby be granted the gifts that faith brings. Because of my faith, the world gained one more kind, loving individual. She truly lives up to her name. I am blessed to not only be her Mama, but to five others just like her…ok, there are slight variations on the mold…and speaking of just like her…in two weeks, I get to repeat the process as I prepare another nursery for her eldest sister, Joanna, who is expecting baby Violet. Joanna’s strength (of Olympic proportion) demonstrated during her own pregnancy challenges makes mine seem mild.

If we could all see into the future, I wonder how it would impact the decisions we make today?
I had no idea how much JOY was in store for me in my future during those deep dark lonely days in 1979. I have learned that JOY comes at a price.

And I try never to forget that with every new challenge I face today. No matter how overwhelming they may seem. We can find the strength to carry on. JOY is just around the corner.

I can’t wait to nuzzle all the new babies in our family…where there’s plenty of love to go around!

“His life was a true testament of service, and he had an abiding love for others,” said U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and fellow Mormon. “His wit, wisdom, and exemplary leadership will be missed by not only members of our faith, but by people of all faiths throughout the world.”

“His leadership in humanitarian efforts around the world was matched only by his efforts in his own beloved state and community as a committed citizen,” said Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Mormon. “He has stood as a remarkable example of selflessness, charity and humility and he will be greatly missed by all.”

Born June 23, 1910, in Salt Lake City, President Hinckley graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in arts and planned to attend graduate school in journalism. Instead, a church mission took him to the British Isles.

He began his leadership role as Prophet and President in 1995 (Brennen was 13 and Garrett was only 9) by holding a rare news conference, citing growth and spreading the Mormon message as the church’s main challenge heading into the 21st century.

Hinckley’s grandfather knew church founder, Prophet Joseph Smith and followed leader Brigham Young west to the Great Salt Lake Basin. He often spoke of the Mormon heritage of pioneer sacrifice and its importance as a model for the modern church.

“I think as long as history lasts there will be an interest in the roots of this work, a very deep interest,” Hinckley said in a 1994 interview with the AP.

“Because insofar as the people of the church are concerned, without a knowledge of those roots and faith in the validity of those roots, we don’t have anything,” he said.

President Hinckley and Sister Hinckley enjoyed a long and enduring association with Brigham Young University. The students all loved his many frequent visits and his tender love for them was evident, as captured in this slide show, below, entitled, Our Journey Together. Please take a moment to view.

This week I wish to share some of the life philosophies and steadfast beliefs of J. Brennen Gee and his younger brother, Elder Garrett Burton Gee, both of whom cherish their pioneer heritage and strive fervently to follow the counsel, example, and teachings given by President Hinckley during his lifetime, which will continue to live on in the lives of all the millions, whose lives he touched.

Love, Elder Gee