Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Our arrival here at the majestic Grand Canyon after a fun two-night side trip through Sedona has been bitter sweet. We pulled in on the afternoon of April 23rd accompanied by our Phoenix friends, Terri, Fred and their kids, in their own camper trailer. All the kids began playing furiously while a shared dinner was prepared and then we assigned our van as the kids’ playhouse while the adults hung out in the camper trailer next door. Around 8:30pm we got a call from Denise’s brother, Jimmy. He had sad news to share. Their Mom, Helen Bevacqua, had just passed away in her group home in California. She had been under hospice care for some time now and we’d been expecting the news but it was a sad blow nonetheless. The news created some time of reflection, tears and sadness in our small van that evening. She was a greatly loved Grandmother to Rose and Ruth and will be sorely missed. Our time at Grand Canyon has been marked by windy days – gusts up to 30 mph – so we’ve not spent as much time outside as we’d hoped since the dust comes roaring across the campground making the air gritty and unpleasant. Today we’re going to hike part way down the Bright Angel trail into the Grand Canyon. It’s the 8-month anniversary of our journey and is also National Junior Ranger day so we’re hoping to stay active and busy today.

A Poem for Grandma Helen

In this tomb her body decays but her spirit will always live in the ones whom she loved and helped. Helen Bevacqua.

by Rose Bryers (age 9)