Back roads

5:01 p.m. Today's project was to celebrate our anniversary, July 11th, and party like it's 1981! So we decided to drive to Palm Springs after church and enjoy some of the things we did on our blistering hot honeymoon week 29 years ago. The blistering heat was key to our newlywed destination, because we were able to get a swanky hotel room at the Sheraton Plaza at half price!

We turned up my iPod on its iHome base to hear all of our favorite rock music, including Orleans' "Still the One," and were on our way. A friend who lives in Beaumont had advised us that the 60 to the Badlands would be very slow, so we took Redlands Blvd to San Timeteo Canyon, and turned east. We enjoyed a smooth, fast ride through horse and chicken ranch country on that back road, until civilization began to appear in the form of huge new tract homes, and finally we saw a sign for the 10 Freeway East. As we sped along, we pointed out to each other the Cabazon dinosaur, and the Whitewater "wash" that is now bone dry, but flowed with water and waders, including ourselves, 29 years ago. We had even gone to a fish farm a ways back from the highway. Noted also was the Tramway on the outskirts of town, which we rode for the first time that year (and later took the family to experience). Daily matters may be hard for Steve to recall, but Palm Springs evokes all kinds of recognition and specific memories for him; he recalls details that I've forgotten, like the original name of our honeymoon hotel, now "The Spa." Proverbs 10:22 just occured to me: "The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." I feel rich indeed today!!

No sorrow today, just laughs and memories. Cruising Palm Canyon Drive was bittersweet because of all the empty businesses, but tourists were still strolling the sidewalks carrying their purchases. We parked, and began a search for the movie theater where we watched "Raiders of the Lost Ark" back in the day. We found it in decrepit condition, now showing live performances, which I would have appreciated if we lived in town and had the time to book reservations ahead!

All was not in vain, however, because we got to walk under cooling misters and were served fresh-baked pizza on a corner! Steve selected peperoni, and I opted for basil pesto. Delish! But no one knew for sure where there was a movie theater! We walked over to Arenas Road and asked the concierge at the Zuzu Hotel. We were told there was a Regal Cinema, and that we needed to go right on Tahquitz Canyon Road "about a block." More misters, a godsend on an incredibly muggy hot day on the back roads, and I began to ask Steve, "What does a "block" mean to these people?" We inquired again at Sherman's Deli, and were told, "it's just after the light." So on we went past many closed businesses, prayerfully just for the summer, seeing nothing like a Regal Cinema. Finally, tucked away below street level, was the theater where we'd taken the kids long ago to see that cute animated fish movie whose title escapes me.

It was not going to be our day to enjoy "Toy Story 3," because it played next at 3:15, giving us over 2 hours to kill. Oh well, it wasn't our honeymoon movie theater anyway...So we stopped for lunch at Sherman's Deli, another of our longtime favorites, delectably kosher. Lox, bagel, cream cheese, sliced onion and capers for me; a patty melt for Steve, and the host was kind enough to take our picture (above). Now that place is classic Palm Springs, from the waiters to the clientele.

Another long walk back to the car, and we were on our way west. Next stop, Cabazon, exit Apache Trail. Hadley's date shakes haven't changed a bit, so we enjoyed them at the counter and most of the way home. This ancient fruit doesn't disappoint, wonderfully sweet as always!

Back at home, we were delighted to watch the video of Pavel's surprise marriage proposal to Heidi, which took place in their 5th and 6th grade children's church classroom, with two pastors present and with the advance planning of all the kids!! It was beyond precious, so full of love, the kind of love that only Christ can create between a man and woman, amid the fellowship of believers. We have an exciting year ahead in the Kruckenberg house!

I'll close with Jesus' words in Matthew 19:6: "What God has joined together, let not man put asunder."