Twylla Alexander
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Back in Elko, Nevada

6/27/2021

4 Comments

 
May 7, 2014
I arrived in Elko, Nevada for the first time.
I assumed it would be my only time. You have to want to get there. And I did.
Sarah Sweetwater was waiting for me. After a year of back and forth emails and multiple changes in my travel plans to visit labyrinths in Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, Sarah and I were set to meet at 11:00. 
(Please read  more about Sarah on a blog posting I wrote about her in 2018.) 
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It was part of a Big Push, to complete my 50-state journey of walking labyrinths and gathering stories from their creators by July 4.  After this trek to the west, I would have three states left. Sarah was key. At the time, Sarah's labyrinth was the only one in Nevada, listed on the Labyrinth Locator, which met my two primary criteria – located outdoors and built and/or envisioned by a woman. And from everything I had read about her online, she was a remarkable woman I was eager to meet!

June 26, 2021
I arrived in Elko, Nevada for the second time. 
I assume it will be my last time, but 
​you never know.
Drew and I left  Redwood City, California early this morning, drove 530 miles, and reached Elko around 5:00. We're on a 4-day road trip to our home in Conway, Arkansas, after Drew completed his job at Alto International School in Menlo Park.
We briefly stopped at the hotel, then drove to Elko Peace Park, where – eight years before – Sarah and I walked the labyrinth she designed. Surrounded by her creativity, I wished for her warm and caring presence. Sadly, Sarah died one and a half years after my visit. 
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I stood at the entrance of the labyrinth, breathed deeply  and said, "Thank you, dear Sarah, for the gift of this peace labyrinth and for the difference you made in the lives of many, including mine. I carried a rock that I would place in the center – to say that I was here, that I remembered.

 

When Sarah and I reached the center during our walk in 2014, she explained that she had designed  space for the word PEACE to form concentric circles in 82 languages... "as many as I could find," she said.

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Then she shared a secret.
"I included my signature somewhere among the Peace messages. Can you find it?'
When I gave up, she leaned forward and pointed....
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Mountain peaks with two small Ss at their base. 

I smiled today as I touched it, then gently placed the rock, and retraced my steps along the path.

June 27, 2021
Drew and I are back on the road. We carry the peace of the labyrinth with us, and invite any of you who visit  Elko  to experience Sarah's beautiful labyrinth for yourselves.
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4 Comments
Alice Digenan
6/27/2021 10:07:32 pm

Thank you for this nice post about my mom!! So glad you got to visit her through the labyrinth.

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Marion Patterson
6/28/2021 09:05:42 am

Absolutely the best! I met a women 6-27-2021 who is visiting a labyrinth in each state also. I gave her your book information. Today, I emailed her about your return to Elko, NV. She is doing a huge western swing so maybe she will find Elko, NV, and pay homage to the labyrinth as well. thank you for sharing. M~

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Dana Alexander
6/28/2021 12:28:51 pm

Twylla, thanks for the travel & labyrinth update! ✌&❤

Reply
Vanda
6/28/2021 12:29:39 pm

Twylla and Drew
I too have put the Labyrinth in Elko on our radar as we have passed through several times but never thought to find this lovely rendition. So great to see you this AM in Cheyenne. More travel to come for all of us!

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    Welcome to my blog!

    ​After writing my books, Labyrinth Journeys ~ 50 States, 51 Stories and The Power of Bread, I knew I wasn't finished writing, or journeying. 
    Please join me as I continue both and see where they lead me (and you!)

    ~Twylla Alexander

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