This past week we traveled to Phoenix to visit my oldest son. While we were there we decided to do a little sight seeing.

First we headed north to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

I’ve seen pictures but no matter how beautiful the photos are, they do not do it justice. It is one of those places you have to see in person. And while you stand on the rim of this vast canyon and TRY to wrap your brain around the fact that the lowest level of exposed rock is TWO BILLION years old, you suddenly realize how “minute” your time on this earth truly is. My mind just can not comprehend that span of time but it can certainly appreciate the beauty of this marvel.

If you have not seen it, go.

We spent one day shopping around Old Scottsdale…okay, so I am not big on shopping so we walked around peaking in windows, exploring the history of the town! We pretty much ran through the Phoenix zoo while killing time before the Cubs game. Brian is from Chicago so he thoroughly enjoyed the game and his Chicago hot dog….a treat from his past.

Tuesday we drove south to Tombstone. The movie “Tombstone” is one of our all time favorites so it was fun to see the Grand Hotel (now the Big Nose Kate Saloon)….

Boothill Cemetery, where the McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton, killed during the OK Coral Shootout, are buried.

The old county courthouse has been beautifully preserved as a museum.

One thing I found interesting was this display of ironstone and old scales, considering today’s decor trends….

Compared to TWO BILLION YEARS, the 140 year history of Tombstone seems like it happened yesterday. It is a time in history that interests us and we enjoyed exploring the little town.

Which brings me to MY history. The day we came home, a friend posted on Facebook that an old building downtown was being torn down. It is the building that first housed the company my dad worked for from 1972 until his death in 1995.

This old building is part of MY history…I was 7 when we moved here in 1971 and this is company my dad worked for through out my childhood and for much of his adult life.

It is soooo sad to see old historical buildings disappear….

….this one is being bulldozed for a parking lot.

I knew I wanted a “momento” from the old building so I contacted the company that was hired to demolish it.

Frank from SSi Construction was SO helpful…much of the building had already been torn down but he patiently picked through the piles of ruble and pulled out a few splintered boards. I pulled all the nails and cut off the splintered ends and hope to clean them up and make a table or bench out of them…reclaimed wood with some serious “sentimental value.”