Powell Power

Dear Nana,

I really liked Lake Powell much better when you did all the work. I didn't appreciate all the hours you spent creating the perfect menu, shopping for all the essentials (and non essentials), packing, cleaning and preparing when we were young. Thanks! Because of all of those fun memories, now the next generation is enjoying your family's tradition. It's awesome! You and Dad made it possible for Lizzy and Rosie to learn to water ski (kind of), for Max to enjoy the tube and for Baby D to eat sand on the muddy beach. I watched and learned how to prepare the family for the Powell adventure and it was so fun this year. I'm just saying that it was way more relaxing with you running the whole show.

Love,

Sarah

My 'Pal'

Warm Water, Warmer Red Rocks, 'Forgotten Canyons',An Abundance of Sea Shells (don't ask me how they got there)
Very NICE friends to save us when 'Family First' (my Dad's boat, his pride and joy)
became Family Last and broke down on Day ONE (that's right)!
Thank Heavens for NICE friends who have a
NICE boat and were NICE enough to say they actually enjoyed hanging out with us
and completely saved our trip!

The feeling of warm sand squishing between our toes

Time spent with the Greats

A beach all to ourselves.........

These are just a few things I love about my good friend, Pal.

At the young age of 2, I made a life long 'PAL'. Traveling down south to a warm and beautiful lake has become a expected tradition my entire life. We didn't make it down every year, but we went enough to develop a close friendship with this magical place in the dessert. She has taught me much on the subject of beauty, discovery and family bonding. It was on her 'glassy' early morning water that I first learned to water ski, behind my Grandfather's boat: 'Paul's Ark'. My earliest memories in the extreme sport of tubing happened as a young girl skidding across her warm waves and holding on for dear life. Dusk boat rides into Pal's beautiful canyons opened conversations with my brothers and husband that I still think about today. Luckily, my family was the first to introduce my true love, Kelly, to our friend, and he in turn became very fond. So fond that is, that he did indeed make 'Studs of Pal', a dvd complete with pictures and video from 9 years spent on the lake. We enjoyed his digital masterpiece on the first night of our trip, laughing at how much we've aged and how much longer men's swimming trunks are these days.
Now, 29 years later, she still lives up to her reputation. Lizzy, became a little braver on the tube and hiked a mountain without breaking a sweat. Rosie didn't let the cooler than usual weather and water stop her from enjoying the lake's spoils. Max, oh Max, he enjoyed being next to his Dad, while wanting to do everything everyone was doing......at once. He, like usual was hard to keep up with, and is still asking to return. I love spending time with my family, especially my parents who want so much for their children to remain close and continue a family tradition. Pal's peacefulness and tranquility fuel me. She, like a best friend, never disappoints, and I think always looks forward to my next visit.

"han we go back Mama?"

At the Lake

according to Rosie, age 3:

Why do you want to go again Rosie?

"b-tause I love it, b-tause it is so fun for me"
"And 'Macky' loves Papa's tube"


What did Ila think about our trip?
"Ila was naughty so her only went on the boat one time, and then her had to take a nap"
Who did she take a nap with?
"Nana"


What did Lizzy like about Lake Powell?
"Her liked her 'ah-glus' (googles), and I have 'ah-glus' just like Lizzy"

What about Mommy & Daddy Rose?

"Ummmm, you liked playing with us"
Is there anything else you think we loved about the trip?

"eating treats."

What was your favorite treat we had?

"ice-cream cones that were this and this and this big"
(rosie makes large hand-movenets describing how large the ice cream cones were)

Did you learn anything on our trip Rosie?

"Macky likes hats ons"

What was your very most favorite part of our trip?

"BABY-SITTING BABY EVAN! HE LOVES ME! I LOVE BABY EVAN"

Thank you Rosie, well said!

We have had some Fun in the Sun thanks to our great lake down south! This was the first trip in 4 years that I actually participated in boating activities. The last few times I have been pregnant and, take it from me, it's just not as great! There were some very memorable tube rides during our "Studs of Powell" competition. My two sis-in-laws and I are the reining "Queens" on the tube, I was, and still am, quite proud. Our girls loved it! They couldn't get enough of the sandy beaches and sea shell collecting. Max amazed us with his instant love for boating. He was so well behaved on the boat and found it all very exciting. He didn't mind wearing his life jacket or swimming in cooler water. All things considered, MAX LEE wins best behaved child on our trip. I know! Totally unexpected! Rosie was the most sad to leave and reminds us about it daily. I can understand, Lake Powell is one of my most favorite places on earth and I am glad she appreciates it as much as Kel and I do.