Tag Archives: Solid Rock Church

Day for Honour, and La Posada

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Historical, Inspiration, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

January 15, 2024- I woke up a bit later than usual, which was okay, despite the looming Monday morning coffee klatch, the march from Prescott College and the presentation of speeches in honour of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, on what would have been his 95th birthday. I missed them all, arriving in Prescott, from Winslow, at 12 Noon. 

That’s okay. My priority was getting back safely, and given the fair amount of homeward bound traffic, that’s what I did. There was also the promise I made to a special friend, that I would visit La Posada Hotel, for about 10-15 minutes and take selected photos of the last hotel built by Fred Harvey and Mary Colter, his primary architect. She did not request this, mind you, but anything I can share with her about Arizona, the Southwest, and my meanderings in general, has a fair importance.

Backing up, just a bit, my room last night, at Delta Motel, had a military veteran motif. That was gratifying, as I did my time in the Army, 1969-72.  The soldier’s camouflage uniform, boots and canteen were on display. It was as if his spirit watches over those who take the room. At any rate, I enjoyed a restful sleep.

Sipp Shoppe, my favourite eatery in Winslow, is about two blocks from La Posada, which has its own establishment, the Turquoise Room. The latter is a place where reservations are required, and I would go, for a special occasion-say, if my above-mentioned friend visits, and wants to see the Winslow area. So, this morning, one of Sipp’s smooth breakfast burritos and a large coffee sufficed.

Along those lines, and because I have had a curiosity about La Posada, here are several of the features of this classic hotel, still in the process of restoration.

In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, some enterprising immigrants from west Asia brought dromedary camels with them, to the Southwest. This copper model greets everyone who enters La Posada’s grounds.
La Posada occupies the site of Winslow’s Union Station, and still serves as an Amtrak station. Here is the northwest entrance.
Allan Affeldt and Tina Mion, a Winslow couple, bought the hotel in 1997, and restored it to its former splendour. Ms. Mion is an accomplished portrait artist, who also paints with a sense of humour. Here are three of her public offerings, on permanent display at La Posada.
Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter are among several recent American political figures who have been captured by Tina Mion, on canvas.
Her post-9/11 portraying of the Bush II Administration figures as the principals in “The Wizard of Oz” raised a few eyebrows, but as you can see, it passed muster, in the end.
A gathering of La Posada’s more famous guests, over the years, is featured at the foot of the main staircase. Harry Truman, Liberace and Simon & Garfunkel stand out,even from a distance.

The structure that houses Tina’s many works is marvel, in itself. There is varied use of light-and un-light.

The southeast main hall.
An intimate spot for conversation.
Ample use is also made of the spacious patios.

So went my first visit to this splendid structure. I should like to return at some point, during the warmer months, when the gardens are in full bloom. For today, I headed back to Home Base 1, and later went to serve dinner at Solid Rock, as per a regular Monday evening-but with the twist that it is a national Day of Service.

All Hands In

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Education, Inspiration, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Striving

August 28, 2023- The pompous driver hollered, at both the city vehicle that was halfway through the unmarked intersection, and thus had the right of way, and the two disabled men who were in a marked crosswalk, with their walkers. (Arizona law states that people in a crosswalk that is not regulated by a traffic signal have the right of way). The driver’s plaint- “This would never be allowed, back home!”-rang a bit hollow to this bystander. I know the two disabled men. They are combat veterans and have earned the respect of the public at large.

It was, however, a genuinely lovely day. The students at the high school where I worked were uniformly focused on their assignment, showing respect for both the regular teacher and me. The six classes were quite large-as high school classes tend to be, yet there was an atmosphere of order-even the cut-ups were rather benign in their antics, and got to work after one warning.

The team at this evening’s dinner at Solid Rock was determined to show the two managers, both out of state, that they can get the job done, on their own. There was a healthy competition to pick up trays from those diners who were finished, with one of the diners himself picking up empties from his mates. A recycling program also started with tonight’s meal-cans, plastic bottles and small cardboard sheets went with the evening’s ad hoc manager. There is a definite pride that the team takes, from all hands being in focus, to give the homeless citizens of our community a balanced, well-prepared meal to start their week.

Everyone does something to help out in our community, and in the world at large. I have learned to not take it on the chin, when someone yammers and squawks if I’m not available to do what they want- often on the spot. I understand that everyone has needs and that frequently those needs are spontaneous. If I can help, so much the better-but there are no apologies forthcoming because I have other acts of service scheduled, some of them in places other than this community. ( I do dislike the overuse of “vacation”, to mean any time away from one’s home area, but I digress.) My friends sigh, or groan, or shrug their shoulders, and when I get back to Home Base, they are still my friends. The users just gripe and move on.

The best case scenario, though, is all hands in-like the classes I covered today, and the dinner at Solid Rock.