Day 9 of Cross-Country Trip with a special protector

First of all - I CANNOT believe it is day 9 already!!! I also cannot believe that my race is on SUNDAY! YIKES!!!!! OK - I'm done flipping out - for now.

I can't start telling you about today until I fill in something from yesterday. When we were in Arches National Park yesterday, there was a raven that appeared EVERY time we stopped the car and got out. EVERY time. It was the same one each time - because he had a neat little marking on one side of his body right near his leg. He would fly or walk RIGHT up to us. We started teasing each other saying "where's your friend?" The boys were talking to "Mr. Bird" like he was their best friend. SO - onto today.

We got up this morning and headed to St George, UT. We got all of 8 miles and changed plans. We decided to go ahead and drive through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. We had done the Needles district on our way into Moab. So we drive into the park - stop at the visitors center and get our stamp - and head to the back of the park like we'd done at Arches. We didn't go straight to the back - because we saw a place to pull over and we wanted to take a picture. I kid you not - I get out of the van and WHOOSH - a bird flies over my head and lands in front of me. It's the SAME RAVEN from Arches!!! I flipped out completely. Don saw him and couldn't believe it. The boys start yelling "Mommy - there's Mr. Bird! He found us again!" SO - I took his picture. Then I went over to the canyon rim, took pictures and got into the car.

We drive further into the park and stop to take a short walk. We parked, got out of the car and there sitting on the fence post was - you got it - the raven. By now I'm realizing there is more to it than a bird just following our car around. But I couldn't figure out why he was constantly there at every stop. Don thinks it's weird, but says he must be looking for food. Not.

We stopped a dozen times today in the park, and only once did the raven not appear. On one of our last stops we got out - looked around for the raven - didn't see him and I started to walk over to the canyon rim to take more pictures. As I'm walking a shadow falls over me and I hear the whoosh of wings. I knew without even looking it was him. He flew less than a foot from my face and landed right beside me. I just stopped and stared at him. He walked RIGHT UP TO ME!!!! I didn't know whether to be scared or amused. He didn't get close enough to touch - nor would I have ever tried - but he was so close I could see into his eyes and see every feather on him. We left the boys in the car and the door open for us to stop on the side of the road and just look at a scene at an overlook. The raven came over to the open door and just stood there looking at the boys - and they stood looking right back at him. They started talking to Mr. Bird again and I was in awe. I wish I'd taken a picture of that scene. By this time even Don agreed he must be our protector in Utah.

At our last stop we were thinking he wouldn't appear. We took a 1/2 mile hike. When we got back to the car - he was there waiting on us. The boys were thrilled. I was questioning why. Don was laughing. We actually said goodbye to the bird as we started to pull off - and he started flying RIGHT BESIDE MY WINDOW!! I thought "my God - he's going to follow us all the way to Phoenix at this rate." As we left the park he veered off and flew away.

SO - other than the raven - we saw lots of canyons and arches again today. We ended up spending most of the day at Canyonlands and then headed toward St George. We called the hotel in St George and ask them to change our arrival day to tomorrow - which they graciously did. We stopped at a town called Salina and ate a great Mexican meal. We put the boys in their PJs and drove another hour to Beaver. Supposedly we're right near the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park - which we plan to see in the morning. (And if Mr. Bird / Raven appears at Bryce Canyon I think you'll probably hear my reaction back there on the east coast) After that we plan to go to Zion National Park and then stay in St George, Utah. The next day we drive through Vegas, Death Valley & Joshua Tree on our way to Barstow, California. Then - it's PHOENIX! I still cannot believe we'll be in Phoenix Friday!

After we arrived at our hotel in Beaver I went for a quick swim and dip in the jacuzzi - and then I ended up calling (and waking up) a Cherokee elder and friend to pepper her with questions about the raven. She told me that indeed the Raven is a protector totem. He is supposedly a very special totem because he is a creator, savior, protector, bringer of light and fire, and a jokester in many native cultures. He is often a symbol of opposites, and many times he is there to remind us to laugh and have a sense of humor. Sometimes he is also there to remind us to use our curiosity and learn from it. So what do I think the raven was there to show me? To laugh and enjoy life. A couple of days ago Don & I had a major disagreement that threatened to ruin the entire trip. I refused to let things get worse, and I focused on keeping the boys active and entertained. The more I had the boys laughing and enjoying themselves as they explored each new place, the more Don & I relaxed and began enjoying the trip again. There have been many moments during this journey that have made me think, made me learn, and made me explore new ideas, but I will NEVER forget the past two days with our raven friend. I know many of you may laugh and think we're crazy to think the raven meant anything - but even my skeptical husband had to wonder today...