Day Zero. The travel day. The day I don’t actually reach my destination because I needed a day to myself before meeting up with my Texas Bestie and making our way to our home away from home for the week. 

For one thing, I’m a serious introvert who almost never gets to be alone so this day (more like half a day) to myself is a gift. A gift I gifted myself when the plan for this girl’s getaway began to form and people wanted a Monday start. 

For another… I’m not flying on September 11th. No way I’m not dismissing the Universe like that. I have nothing but respect. 

And finally… who wouldn’t want an extra day when the “week” is technically only 4 days? Monday through Thursday? What kind of week is that? It’s closer to half a week than a full week so the extra day is my answer to that nonsense. 

What have I done with my extra day?

Well, what I didn’t do was get up at the butt crack of dawn. I booked a flight for 1 PM knowing I would gain two hours. So I didn’t have to deal with that early morning stomach ache I usually endure rushing to throw clothes on and get to the airport. Nope. I did my chores, finished packing, got a few steps on the treadmill, and THEN at 10:45 AM headed to the airport. Mid-day flights, for the win!

After an hour’s wait near the gate, I was on the plane and then a few short hours later arrived on the surface of the sun. ☀️ JK. Landed in Phoenix where it was 110 degrees! Might as well be the surface of the sun. 

It actually feels glorious to me. I love the dry desert heat. 

Arrival. ✅
Pick up the rental car. ✅
Get to the hotel. ✅

Things could not have gone smoother. 

I checked into the HIE in Scottsdale around 3:15 which was great timing. Just enough to drop my stuff off, pee, eat a Kind bar (you are what you eat), and get to my scheduled massage in Old Town by 4 PM…Perfection! 

It was my first authentic Thai massage ever and I didn’t know what to expect. Now I do. Lots of pressure and stretching mixed with the traditional Swedish techniques I’ve experienced before. I am not gonna lie, it was pretty intense. And I would not exactly call it relaxing. 

In the beginning, she said, “If it’s too much, tell me, okay?” 

I said “ok” but apparently “owww” and “ouch” work just as well. There were a few instances where I was on the brink of saying something, but then thought I should just power through to see how it felt. I’m sure if I thought something was too much, my audible exasperation would let her know. 

After those intense stretches, the alternating traditional Swedish felt divine. 

Toward the end, I asked myself if I’d ever do it again. The answer is yes because if you don’t do something twice, you have no basis for comparison. Would I do it again if I had done it twice and what I experienced was the same? …. No. 

After that, I went back to the hotel briefly to think about the rest of the evening. It was still pretty early but since I hadn’t had a single meal and it was like 6 pm, dinner was the obvious answer. But where to go?? 

To Rehab of course! 

I Googled top-rated restaurants in the area and Rehab Burger came up top of the list with a rating of 4.8. If I were still in the business of rating cheeseburgers, Rehab would score 4.5 ⭐ (for the BYOB – Build Your Own – 5oz, mid-rare with cheddar, onion, and tomato on a brioche bun. Two sauces on the side) but since I’m not, I’ll just say that the restaurant lived up to its Google rating. Top notch!

The margarita wasn’t half bad either. 

I made quick work of the meal and then went back to the HIE which was about 3 minutes drive. If that. 

Which brings me to where I am now. Walking on a treadmill in the exercise room attempting to adequately capture the magic of this day before it slips away. 

What might I forget, come tomorrow? 

Had a good flight…. Single plane, smooth ride, ordered that Bloody Mary mix and was reminded of the poem I wrote in 2018, Next Stop Nashville. 

Opted for an upgrade with the vehicle and am driving a 2023 black Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s a sweet ride but I’m not used to such a large vehicle. Still, I’ll be picking up my +3 with their luggage tomorrow and want to cruise comfortably.

The desert heat reminds me of when I lived in Vegas, about a million years and several lifetimes ago. I see the palm trees and think about Nellis Boulevard and my first apartment, laying out on a plastic lawn chair on my concrete and stucco patio, listening to the Lemonheads, and playing Super Mario on my Gameboy. Those were the good ole days.

My one night stay in Old Town Scottsdale is in a double queen overlooking the outdoor pool. I’m a loyal HIE fan. Free breakfast with those delicious cinnamon rolls, for life!

It feels great to take things at my own pace and not feel rushed, like at the airport, getting my bag, and making my way to the rental car. In PHX you have to take a tram between terminals and I’m still stuck in “small town” Omaha in my head. When the automated voice on the tram said, “Next Stop, Terminal 3, 24th Street Station, Rental Car Depot” I thought that was the next stop. Turns out, those were three different stops so I got out at Terminal 3 only to discover, it was not the stop for rental cars and then had to wait to catch the next shuttle. 

Same kinda thing happened to me when I was 23 and traveled to Atlanta Georgia for work for the first time. Back then, you could walk underground from one concourse to the next and I thought “No big deal” and started walking. Miles later, arriving at the next concourse, I calculated how much longer I’d have to walk to baggage claim, and figured out real quick how to get on the shuttle. Good Gravy!

I digress. I suppose my point is that it was just nice not to be in a hurry, which I often feel when I am with other people. I’m kinda wondering how it will be with this crew. I’ve had girl’s trips with other women, but this is a different blend than past trips.

The second to the last thing I don’t want to forget is that eating that meal, with the french fries and pickle, reminded me of college when I persisted daily on french fries and pickles. Those were the good old, old days. 

The last thing is sadly something that has already slipped away to the ether because it’s 9:15 PM and I’m beat tired. Like I said, there is a two-hour time difference, so it’s actually 11:15 PM back home. And goodness knows, I’m never awake at 11 PM. Must mean it’s time for me to turn out the lights. 

That’s it for day zero. Next Stop.. Day 1 in Sedona.  

Later Gaterz,
~Miss SugaCookie