Decisions
I've been a little sporadic lately with my updates, and I don't think I wrote that my second aunt did indeed pass away last week, on Wednesday. She was really a very sweet lady; she was clear of mind to the end, but tortured by arthritis and osteoporosis, and the emphysema that can accompany that. (She was a non-smoker; the emphysema came from her ribs closing in on her lungs.)
There was no actual funeral, only a graveside service in California, which my cousins held privately. My aunt had said some time ago that our tribute to her should be a trip taken together by my sister and me, and her two daughters, our first cousins. I've said before that the Sibs and I are super close to one of these cousins and not so much with the other, but she too is very sweet, although flaky, and the loss of her mother will be hardest on her.
So guess who gets to plan the trip?
We've narrowed it down to a spa trip, you know, a resort we can all go to and relax and get massages and do yoga and stuff. We will be coming from New Jersey (the Sibs and I) and Colorado and Oregon (the other two), so I'm looking for a reasonable destination that isn't Kansas or Nebraska, or something else that is specifically in the middle. I'm thinking Arizona, which my sister says sounds good; she also would like to go in August. Something about that doesn't sound right to me.
I did find a beautiful place online; it has locations in Arizona, Miami, and Massachusetts (in the Berkshires.) It was looking better and better until I finally got to what it costs: a four day package is about $3000.
WTF? And, it bears repeating, WTF?
This is waaaaaaaay beyond the means of any of us, not surprisingly. I was thinking that, including airfare, I could eke out about $1000 as a tribute to my aunt. Now I have no idea where to look.
I may drift back to one of my original thoughts and see if there's a hotel in Chicago with a spa facility and we can go to museums there and stuff. When this was first mentioned a few years ago, I thought of a pilgrimage to the Mall of America, but that's just more money spent. Of course, we considered Disney World, which I thought would be expensive, but I already know I can do Disney for a thousand, so it's not looking so bad anymore.
Of course, there's always Wildwood on the Jersey shore, although that is a schlep for the other two.
I'm reaching for ideas. I've heard that Arkansas is beautiful, actually, but I don't know anything about it or where to go. Maybe there's something in central Canada that would be nice in the summer. (Ooh, maybe Quebec. I'll check that next.)
I'm open. Here's what's out: anything on either coast, since it would be too long a flight and too expensive for at least someone. Colorado, since one of us already lives there. Utah, because I don't want to go to Utah.
Go.
THE GOLDEN GIRLS :: ENTRY #2013
READING: Fool by Christopher Moore
You are reading Christopher Moore? YAY! He is one of my faves!
ReplyDeleteHeh. Canyon Ranch, eh? A big favorite of the "ladies who lunch" at the JCC where I used to work.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about Kripalu? http://www.kripalu.org/guest_information/591/ It's a little more granola than pedicures, and it is more local to you than the cousins, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
Okee Dokee...First, let's start with Arizona in August, which can be surprisingly cooler than you might expect, especially if you go to Sedona or Prescott. Sedona is really a good place for contemplation and metaphysical stuff. Nice spas up in them thar parts too.
ReplyDeleteI would stay away from Phoenix or Snottsdale, with temps of 102 at night, it's not very nice in August, even if the Monsoon rains DO come through! Down where I am, the temps average 15-20 degrees lower, but it is the rainy season!
Utah...why NOT Utah? OK, yeah, I'm not terribly fond of the Mormon church, but daggone it, Utah is gorgeous, and not everyone is a Mormon! Check out Park City, which is up in the mountains, or even Moab, Zion, and Bryce Canyons.
I know you said nothing on either coast, but there's Mendocino in Northern California, where you can find some really nice B&B's to stay at, or anywhere else from San Rafael/Santa Rosa northwards. If you like wine, you can go to Napa and visit the vineyards and go wine tasting. My mom used to do that every year...and we called her a wino! Gorgeous countryside.
Then there's Lake Tahoe. The most gorgeous blue water ever, and resorts, casinos, spas etc, and you can often get package deals with airfare, (in and out of Reno) and accommodation. There are also tons of condo rentals up there too.
Anything in the middle of the country (like Arkansas) might tend towards the hot and humid side in the summer. I'd go for a coast or high altitude, or somewhere like Whitefish, Montana.
Maybe you can book a cruise or something like? Yeah, the summers can be really humid, but if you are on a ship in the Caribbean, who cares? You can easily book something for less than $1000!
There you have it. Miss Rosie's suggestions for a good time. And naw, I never worked in the travel industry, whatever gave you that idea?
Hehe. I was going to point out that all of Arizona isn't hotter than Hades in August, but Rosie beat me to the punch.
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