An (Undramatic) Dream Came True

“Hey man, I'm alive
I'm taking each day and night at a time
I'm feeling like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday night... “

I’ll give you one guess at who said that! One guess, because I know that no matter your age, social class, country, or amount of rocks you’ve been living under, you know that those lyrics are belched out by Jon Bon Jovi!

I can’t even remember the very first time I knew about Bon Jovi. It could have been in my middle school years (that’s around 1985’ish), but because that was the tail end of Communism and the worst years ever under that regime, I doubt I would have heard of them underneath that iron curtain.

So, it must have been high school – most likely after 1989 … But that seems too late!

Needless to say, I feel like I was born and was raised on their music, much like I was on that of The Beatles’ and Elvis’s. I can recognize Jon’s voice on the radio any time, even if it’s a song that I have never heard before – if such a thing is still possible!

They’ve been such a mainstay in my life, that I never even thought about actually wanting so badly to see them live. I felt like, in a way, they’re everywhere. How much closer to them can a live performance get me?!  

I remember I listened to them on my 10^th grade graduation retreat, on my summer breaks in the Romanian mountains, in my very hot flat, during college summer nights, at mom’s home. I remember reading about what a great big deal was when he chopped off his hair. I remember him on Ally McBeal! To me, they’re as American as Bruce Springsteen, and as lovable and popular as a white zin amongst the wines or a golden lab amongst the dogs – they just go with everything and lick everyone’s hand! There is something of the “boy next door” familiarity about these kids, I tell you this much. A timeless, ageless flair.

I finally got the chance to be under the same roof as them about 3 weeks ago, in Salt Lake City. And what do you know?! I was not truly, deeply moved! It was like seeing old friends. It was probably the only live show I have ever been to where I felt like I knew every song – there was an eerie intimacy to it. What I knew about them (except for Sambora who was missing that night, replaced by a new Canadian guitarist, apparently) was all there. Same voice, same crazy running up and down the stage, same solos, same focus on delivering plain, good, clean music. Same black leather vest.

There was nothing spectacular, out of the world shocking (like Aerosmith showing up an hour late to the show, with Steve and Joe Perry screaming at each other in a spat) or Gene Simmons stuffing his tongue down some chick’s throat at a KISS show; or Melissa Etheridge demanding a Persian rug be on stage before she could start playing, during a downpour in Deer Valley! It was just plain, good, synchronized, clean music. Same ol’ – same ol’. And flawless! There is lots to be said for exactness and non-drama in this crazy rock-n-roll business, for sure. Except, of course, for the fact, that their famous front guitarist didn’t show. I guess that’s the bit of the chance in this business.

I have many Bon Jovi favorite songs. When I plug them into my car cd player, I sing along with every tune, all the way to work. But I lived for hearing Bed of Roses live. It played at my wedding and it’s just the most peaceful rock ballad I know. And I would not be opposed to playing it at my funeral, too, if someone will remember this.

And that night , for this song alone, will stay in my memory as one where a dream came true – because he, the man from Jersey, the un-dramatic, “clean” rocker did that for me. With one song! So, I guess, I was moved, after all. Moved that not only did I hear my favorite song one more time, but that he played it live. For me. And I got a live recording of it. All mine.   

Enjoy – funny interlude and all:

Thank You, Stephen King!

I know that you all might be wondering what in the world A. wants to say today, with this picture, or why this picture, now? Well, this thought matches my life now as you would not believe! It matches it and wakes me up to my core, with a jolt!

Some days, recently, all I want is to quit. Some days I just want to resign: from life, from the world, from just ... going on ... And this reminded me why it's so important to just plug on through. Because, at the end of a shit shoveling day ... I am still absolutely sure, in all my conceitedness,  that I do good work. 

So, I shall not stop this piece of work ...

Thank you, Sir, for your infinite wisdom!

The Roads Less Traveled: Zion and other Hidden Gems

So many people tell me “Oh, you travel so much!”. But I feel that I don’t at all, in the grand scheme of things. At least not as much as I wish I did. Driving a couple of hours in whatever direction from where we live, and spending the weekend nights in a hotel or campground don’t constitute, I guess, the kind of “travels” that people would notice. But I suppose if it’s away from home, no matter how far, you’re traveling. A matter of perspective?! Perhaps.

We kept our tradition of taking a trip around our birthdays (mine) and/ or anniversary – they’re both this month – and we drove to Southern Utah, to spend last weekend in and around Zion National Park.

As you might remember, Zion is one of my favorite places on the planet. It’s one of those spots that elevates me and reminds me why there is order in the universe. In a few words and a lot of pictures – here’s how the trip went this time.

Aa. discovered a cool new place to have breakfast: Oscar’s. Think Asheville, NC hippy meets Mexican cuisine. The portions were insane, too, and the coffee came in these locally made, very coarse (think naïve art) clay mugs. Just too cool! 

Breakfast al fresco, at Oscar's

The Zion Canyon Overlook trail was challenging but so rewarding at the very end! I was shocked that there was almost no fencing along the trail, and one side of it opened up in a very steep and very rocky precipice. There was hardly any vegetation to hold on to, should you have slipped. Dogs were not allowed on the trail but kids were, and I thought that was not a good idea, either! After all, we live in America, where people sue for slipping on their own bathroom floors! I was surprised that the trail was not more “protected” or at least “warned”. It is a listed as a moderate trail, and if you’re not too sure footed, or are afraid of heights, I would not recommend it. However, it is only a half mile (one way) walk, and as I have said – completely worth it!

So many times in Utah, you feel like you're walking on Mars: on the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail

 

On the trail: spring is definitely here!  

On the edge! - shooting into the valley below ... 

The trail was mostly narrow and rocky, but some of it was sandy and thus slippery as well. It was littered with lizards. At the very top, we saw tons of chipmunks, but there were ever so elusive, so … they shied away from pictures. The view from the top of the trail, down, into the winding roads inside the Zion Canyon is amazing! It’s one of the few spots in Zion where you can look at the canyon from the top down. Mostly, the ride in this park allows one to be at the bottom of the majestic formations. So, this was really a treat!

 

On top of the world! Finally, at the of the trail, looking into the park road below. The Zion - Mt. Carmel Tunnel is behind me, through the mountain on my right

"How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountain!" (John Muir) - Zion Canyon

Dinner at The Spotted Dog Café was another new experience to us. Usually, in majorly touristy towns, I don’t like eating at very posh, very high end establishments. I like mingling with the local crowd, in hole-in-the-wall places that hold the charm of the area strong. But The Spotted Dog Café, aside from the neat name, had a charm all of its own, despite the high end flair. The place is like  a giant sun room – all wood and glass.  We sat outside, on their back patio, under tall elm trees, shedding their blooms right into our water pitcher. The red cliffs of Zion were guarding us all around. 

On the patio: the rocky mountains of Utah reflected on the Cafe's windows

 

My dinner: fresh mountain trout, crusted with sunflower seeds, over dirty rice, asparagus and spaghetti squash

If you ever happen down those parts, make sure you pay a visit to this place! They have a pretty impressive (for Utah) wine list, and everything they serve is simple food made deliciously. 

Springdale, UT - Southwestern architectural detail at Amigos

The weather was perfect all weekend, so we could have almost all the meals outside. If the trail climb was the highlight of Saturday morning, a stroll through Springdale, visiting art galleries and swanky boutiques was the pastime of the evening. For a quick break, we stopped at Amigos, a Mexican restaurant, and we just had some chips, three kinds of salsa, and some beer. This was a revisit from our first trip to Zion. We love the casual atmosphere there, the salsas are amazing and the hostess is so low key and welcoming! Just pure goodness! 

Snacks at Amigos

On our way back home, I wanted us to drive through the Kolob Canyons, as there was a brown sign on the highway announcing them. If you lived long enough in The Rockies, you know that any sign of a canyon will immediately offer breathtaking views and peaceful corners, and almost always a surprise or two. This was no exception. 

Kolob Canyons vistas and details

Unlike other canyons, we could not drive through the big “cuts” in the side of the mountain on this one! We could only drive along the side of them, on the 5 mile long park road, and look at the formations to one side. They were spectacular, however, as you can see from the pictures. This park is definitely for those with a love of hiking – to get inside the steep valleys, and see some of the formations (arches and bridges, etc), you have hour long or several hour long hikes – something we didn’t have the luxury of in a couple of Sunday afternoon hours. 

" 'ello, Mate!" - click on the lizard to see the whole album

Puff Pastry for Dinner

Sometimes food is so much more for me, I almost hate that – because I eat more of it then! It’s not just nutrition. It’s emotion, and memories, and love to myself after a crazy day, or week. And most of all, when I cook it, the whole cooking process is peace at the end of a busy life.

Today, I had some weird cravings for not necessarily food, but just memories. I wanted to bring back my childhood and especially my maia, my mom’s mother. Not sure why. Maybe it’s just looking at the daffodils in my yard which she used to give me for my birthday every year – which is just around the corner. Maybe it’s because she died in April. Maybe because I have been dreaming of her so much… and that makes me miss her so.

So, I reconnected with her, through food …

I made sautéed mushrooms in garlic gravy, wrapped in phyllo dough, and sweet vanilla ricotta cheese  wrapped in puff pastry. She used to make the latter as well as apple strudel almost every weekend. The house smelled so good, and we would always ask: “grandma, which one is which?!”. She used to say: “the lighter one is the cheese”. But they were both light golden in color, and we could never tell till the first bite. 

Sweet, vanilla, ricotta cheese wrapped in puff pastry

The mushroom concoction is a popular street food in my home town – and that also brings me home. I used to just walk outside maia’s condo and just buy these in the street we lived on.  

 

Garlic gravy mushrooms wrapped in phyllo dough

 

They both turned out delicious and my house smells like many Sundays long and gone. I will probably dream of days past and my happy childhood all night.

Rest in peace, sweet angel! And, as always, thank you for the memories. 

 

The Road

My relationship with the road has evolved over years, just like any relationship does – it transforms to become the vague remembrance of what it used to be, despite our helpless and awkward denials and trying to fight it. I think it started before I was alive, all those many years ago, with my gypsy ancestors whose very home was the road …

For me, it started out back in the days of my school years and later, through college, learning the road and loving it in the only way you can learn it and love it – by walking it. I used to walk miles and miles, either with a purpose (to school, to my relatives in the mountains, from the train station towards their remote abodes), or without – just to get to a park, where I would walk some more …

Then, I started taking transportation (train and bus mainly) to get to other cities and countries. All this time, no matter what the means of transport was,  I noted the sights my eyes saw, the color of the sky, mostly, and the shape of the roads – winding, or straight, climbing or flat, potholes or just pristinely even …

Once I moved to America, the road was mine, ‘cause I could drive just about everywhere. That was after years and building up courage to test the interstate system. I would sometimes pick a spot in remote places with skinny, tiny roads that lead to it, just to see if I could make it. That could take up a lonely girl’s whole weekend.

Through it all, I kept a picture of the perfect trip in my head. Although I had never seen it, to me, the perfect trip would be somewhere in Arizona or New Mexico, in the desert, where the road looks endless and it touches the sky at all times. And where there is nothing, not a soul around, not a vague and lying promise of a settling in sight!

Today, I have the chance to drive the desert of Utah every day, if I chose to! It’s not Arizona or New Mexico, but it’s close. Today, my dream has come true, I could say.

I took these shots on my recent trip to Vegas, while driving. I hope you get a taste of the lonely, and yet very alive feeling you get by chasing that horizon, right here, in the desert. 

I love, love, love this beautiful big sky!

 

The colors of the desert against the sky are surprising and breathtaking ...

 

Sunrise in the desert ...

 

“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road 

 

Sunset on the road ... 

 

Away ...

 

And till recently, I never knew what my road song was: it was this beautiful reading from Arizona Dream. When I first heard it, while driving, of course, it felt just like coming home. When I get sad or lonely, I play it over and over in my head, and it makes me smile with possibilities …