May 6, 2021. Maddison, Mississippi. The Grand Canyon.

Ken and I have visited the Grand Canyon several times. The first was almost Ken's last. We were working at a camp outside Tucson, Arizona the summer of 1962. In between campers, we travelled Arizona, camping as we went, driving in our VW bug with no airconditioning. Our first excursion was to the Grand Canyon which we found truly grand. At one of the veiwing spots we both stepped over the fence meant to keep tourists from falling over. And we walked toward the edge. Just to the right was a huge rock with a path around the rock, which gave a better view of the canyon, several thousand feet below. The path was quite wide so Ken suggested we go around the rock but I said no. I have never had good balance but Ken was confident of his ability. So off he went on the path around the path overlooking the Grand Canyon. He took a long time to return and it did cross my mind that I might be required to drive back to Ontario by myself. Eventually he reappeared and we got back into the car to continue our excursion. But he was quiet. That night at dinner he told me the story. The path was 5 feet wide at the beginning but the path got narrow and Ken was thinking that the path might end so he turned around to return. And one foot slipped and he found himself on his stomach on the path but with both legs hanging over the canyon. All his muscles froze and it took ages to convince his legs to move. Eventually he got his legs back on the small path where he crawled to where the path was wider so he could stand up. He came very close to seeing the Grand Canyon only once. All his life he recalled the felling of terror with no ability to move. It was the only time in his life that he had that experience. And he never forgot it. Since then, we stayed on the tourist side of every barrier. Every summer in Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia someone drowns because they stepped over the fence telling tourists not to go beyond the barrier. Then a big wave comes and washed them into the water from which they can not get out. But they did just what we did and steped over to get a better look. Ken just got lucky.