BY JOELLEN COLLINS
As I sat on the bus from the Twin Falls airport next to a woman visiting her family in Hailey, we both gasped when we rolled over the top of Timmerman Hill to see the early evening pink light and then dark shadows on the snow-filled mountains of the Wood River Valley. This highway introduction to our beautiful area never ceases to please me more than I usually expect. Whether the green rolls of mountains dotted with newly-leafed trees in the spring, or the splash of yellow, orange and red in the fall, this vision never disappoints. And I’m about to be home.
This time, especially, the view was a reward after a long day, a time when many of my fellow travelers had experienced delays, long trips, and jet lag. In my case, the story is familiar and one I have lived often since moving to Ketchum decades ago. We residents understand that this is not an easy travel destination, especially in winter, and also understand that this inconvenience is one of the reasons we have not become too big and posh. You are welcome to skip my summary, but perhaps you’ll sigh with your own memories.
The Monday morning after Thanksgiving I awoke at 4 a.m. at my family’s home in San Francisco, readying for a 6:05 flight to Sun Valley. At 4:15, I checked my phone and learned that my plane was delayed for 2-1/2 hours to Salt Lake. Of course, I didn’t make my scheduled flight at 11:15 a.m. from SLC to SUN.
I took another flight which then, as expected, bused us from Twin Falls to Sun Valley. Oddly for me, I was also nauseated and upset because I would probably miss my rehearsal for 6:30 p.m. in Ketchum for the annual Caritas Christmas program on Dec. 6. Long and short: by the time I picked up my dogs at the south end of Hailey and got to my condo in Ketchum, it was 7 p.m., and I was also sick all night, probably from stress, even for someone who LOVES to travel!
One thing I have learned from my wandering history is not to whine and kvetch about things that happen. I have no control over many of the delays (unless I missed a flight because of being late) and usually bring plenty of things to keep me occupied. One has to accept travel woes, so I focus on the gratitude that I am still capable of feeling. I have arrived safely, had some conversations and interactions with good people, worked a couple of New York Times crossword puzzles, and am grateful that I have friends and family here and in California, people worth the hassle of travel. My former 16-hour drives back and forth between Idaho and California are over, and my daughters help me with frequent flyer miles. So how can I complain?
The best perk, though, of leaving this Valley is coming back to its mountains, spectacular landscapes and a community full of caring people and shining activities. Yep, I’m home.