Day 2 starts in Phoenix and ends in Sedona with lots of sights seen in between.
The first sight was at a place called Mimi’s in the northern corner of Phoenix, sitting across from a feisty soon-to-be real estate mogul. Enjoyed a tasty breakfast and caught up on all the lives in our lives since we last chatted. I appreciate the hour drive my friend made to meet up. Cheers, Steven, the laird of every DTP you inhabit🥂! The 3-way with Andy and AJ was a fun bonus!
Checked out of the hotel, loaded the car and headed to the first of two museums to visit before leaving Phoenix.
First up, the Heard Museum of American Indian Art. Beautifully laid out space with spectacular displays of First Nations art and history.
The Veterans history and memorial display outside the main entrance was very moving. I have trouble wrapping my head around the fact that so many Native Americans went to war to support and defend a country that has treated them abhorrently from the moment of first contact. Yet they did, and they served – then and now – with pride.
The museum houses several regular and rotating collections. One of the special collections on display right now is The Grand Procession: Contemporary Plains Indian Dolls, and is comprised of 23 soft sculpture dolls from 6 artists. Zoom in on the pictures to read the placards and to check out the exquisite detail on these pieces.
From the museum: The dolls represent a figurative reference to Indigenous peoples from the Great Plains and Great Basin regions who lived in those areas during the late nineteenth century. Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock), Rhonda Holy Bear (Cheyenne River Sioux and Lakota) and three generations of Growing Thunder family members; Joyce Growing Thunder, Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty and Jessa Rae Growing Thunder (Assiniboine and Sioux) embellish each doll with tiny micro-beads in intricate detail.
Another hall had walls and walls of jewelry and textiles and katsina dolls and a few Navajo sand paintings. I have always loved these paintings, just so beautiful and intricate, like nothing else in the world. Just gorgeous.
Great museum with gift shop, cafe, and museum shop for the serious collector. Highly highly recommend a stop here next time you are in Phoenix.
After browsing the shops and supporting the museum in my small way, I headed 20 minutes north to visit the Musical Instrument Museum. A *MUST* visit for anyone that loves music. Rare historical instruments to mechanical calliope-type rigs, to contemporary artist displays, plus a hands on lab (which was crawling with people touching everything, as they are invited to do but…eww no thank you) and a window into their conservation lab. Zoom in on the photos to read the descriptions.
The frets on this guitar are not fixed. They are catgut, and moveable.
Can’t help but wonder if my great-grandfather Thomas Petrini, a well-known cornet soloist in his day, ever played with Gilmore’s bands. Surely he knew of him, perhaps they knew of each other.
This whole trip began as a small seedling of an idea when I asked my Dad (years ago) what were his bucket list places that he’d like to visit one more time. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Death Valley topped his list, along with a few other places. We were never able to make the trip, and so I am doing it now. For myself, for him…I have brought things with me to have his spirit with me as I visit his favorite places for the first time. So it was a wonderful spirit moment to turn the corner out of the mechanical music room to see Dad’s favorite, the Man In Black himself.
Well, not “himself” of course…that would be creepy. And probably a little dusty. But this “hall of legends” was very very cool.
Some of my favorites, among the displays:
Victor Wooten…the MAN. And his brother Roy with the synthaxe drumitar…that thing looks more like a piece of modern art than a working instrument but what that really means is that Roy Wooten is some kind of genius.
And then from across the room I see him/it…and it’s like everything else just fades away.
The Police, Andy Summers…my drop dead, never gonna be topped favorite band, ever. He really is a short little drink of water.
The conservation lab. Oh to be able to watch them at work or take a look around in there. I have a toy that belonged to my grandpa that is a wind-up whistler but the air bladder that powers the whistle is kaput. I will be making a phone call to the people that work in this lab to see if they can do anything to repair it.
Museums visited, it was now time to head north to Sedona, my home base for the next 2.5 days. While the scenery was mostly brown and red, the music to the show Outlander made the perfect soundtrack to the drive. Stunning. I can’t think of a better word.
Stopped for dinner and some grocery shopping and finally rolled into the VRBO, called Peace at the Crossing. Aptly named.
I wish I could capture the night sky in a photo. My phone can’t get it done. The brightest stars I have ever, ever, ever seen. Orion looking down on me as I look back at him and all of his brothers and sisters. Stunning.
Oh you better believe I did.
Day 2 in the books. Looking forward to a glorious day in Sedona tomorrow. Highs in the mid-50s!
Thanks for reading! More to come…
Penny Thoughts 
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