A blast of arctic air gushing through the door of the
Visitor Center was welcome contrast to the incinerating heat of the parking
lot. We yielded to its icy embrace,
feeling instantly energized along with a substantial throng of other visitors
who milled around chatting with the uniformed attendants and checking out the exhibits.
All around were pictures of the Canyon.
Interactive maps of
the Canyon.
Brochures about the Canyon.
Classes
and courses about the Canyon.
Certification training for the aspiring Canyon guides.
Everywhere you look.
Canyon.
Canyon.
Canyon.
You can spend an entire day inside this air-conditioned
heaven, thinking you were at the Grand Canyon without ever seeing the real
thing!
Several times we were politely encouraged to view a movie
about Grand Canyon in the state of the art (of course, also air-conditioned!) theater. We noticed a long line already forming in front of the entrance.
At first, I thought I heard it wrong. I thought it was a replay of the argument we
just had with our two teenagers in the car on the way to the park.
But then we heard it again. And again.
The much-too polite, much-too smiling attendants strongly suggested that we step into the line.
I didn’t hear it wrong. I heard it right. Still inside my head,
I simply couldn’t reconcile…
Why in the world would
anybody want to watch a movie about
Grand Canyon when you can simply step outside and see the real thing???
I know it's not an excuse, but I can (somewhat) understand the
ignorance and inertia of my children. It still drives me crazy, but I can understand.
But this...?
This - I simply couldn’t fathom. I couldn't comprehend that the same temptation would come my way AGAIN, right here, when the destination is practically at our fingertips, and that from no other than the attendants of the Grand Canyon himself!
I grabbed my husband by the hand, sinking my fingernails
deep into his skin and said,
We got to get out of
here!, and darted towards the door.
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