Northern_Lights_2016

26 I finally pull into a parking lot after passing by not just three, but four good lots off of the main road. Rebecca had simply insisted upon going to a less populated lookout. Sisters . Before I can even pull into a space, she has her seatbelt off and her hand poised to grasp the handle of my dark blue CR-V. “Charlie!!!” she practically squeals in anticipation. “Can you believe that it is snowing at the Grand Canyon?!” She opens the door and hops out as soon as I slide into a suitable parking spot, not even waiting for me to put the car in park. “Yeah . . . it snows in Arizona . . . weird,” I ended up muttering to myself. Of course it is snowing . . . it’s the middle of winter in the mountains! Why is everyone always surprised that it snows in Arizona? “I’ll meet you down there, okay?” She starts jogging down to the rim without even acknowledging my nod of agree- ment. Her long brown hair and orange University of Texas-Austin sweatshirt contrast starkly against the sterile whiteness that surrounds us. I let her go without complaining. My mind is still an hour and a half behind me in Flagstaff, glued to my laptop screen in search of some brilliant idea to propose as my final project for Historical Geology. There are so many options! But the proposal is due tomorrow!! I rub my temples slowly and close my eyes. Why is it so bright in the middle of the afternoon? Oh yeah, this damned snow. No doubt that it will make the walk to campus tomorrow morning miserable. Maybe I should’ve gotten that park- ing pass . . . Finally, I turn the car off and get out. I spot my sister gazing out at the empty space that is the canyon as I throw my corduroy jacket on. After a couple of minutes of unhurried walking, I settle in at the railing next to her and her awe. “The first time I see the Grand Canyon, Charlie, and it’s covered in a cozy blanket of snow,” she imparts dreamily. “Have you ever seen anything so serene?” “Uh . . . ” I respond absentmindedly, “I guess not.” There’s that frenzy about snow in Arizona again… I lean forward and look down at my feet as I put my hands together. I don’t see anything. I’m looking at what Dr. Watkins might deem worthy of an A. The Rio Grande? . . .Too common. Enchanted Rock? . . . Not common enough. Oh fuck me . . . My sister snaps into alertness. “I’m gonna explore the rocks over there, wanna come?” She points to somewhere in the canyon. I look up and follow her finger to the direction of a ridge that spills into the blankness. “I’m good here, thanks.” “Fiiiine. . .be that way . . . Don’t worry, I’ll be back in a bit!” she teases brightly. I hear her skip off and leave me to my unilluminated imagination. Historical Geology . . .come on . . .come on . . .more like Hysterical Geology at this point! Ha! I look out to the ridge. Sure enough, Rebecca is there. She really booked it over there! I focus on my sister. She is standing on one of the rocks near the edge, arms outstretched toward the sunset as if she is doing her best impression of Leo DiCaprio in Titanic . Finally, I am forced to confront the beauty of my surroundings. The colorless canyon seems to absorb all of the hustle and bustle of my mind and a cool calmness falls over me. I really haven’t seen anything so serene. Suddenly, I snap up. I want to take it all in: the snow in Arizona, my sister getting to experience it, and even the numbness creeping into my nose and cheeks; the sparkling canyon and the radiant sunset. The list could go on for some length! Then it dawned on me. The Grand Canyon during the Ice Age! Surely the Arizona landscape isn’t highly associated with that chilly era! Brilliant! I want to jump for joy! I settle instead on joining Rebecca on the ridge. I traverse the terrain with a light heart and a smile. “Ahoy there, Jack!” I call to her in my best sea captain voice, “Where be yer lady, Rose?” She turns to look at me with a laugh. “I knew you’d find your way over here.” It Snows in Arizona? Holly Holborn