Happy 100th Birthday, Arizona!

**macwilkin** · 14th February 12, 08:20 AM

On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of the USA, the last state before the admission of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959. Today she celebrates 100 years of statehood.

As the son of a "son-of-a-gun from Arizona" who is trapped in a cold and snowy SW "Misery", in my mind I am in the desert. I'll lift a pint tonight (unfortunately we can't get any AZ microbrews here) in honor of my dad's home, and home to many happy memories from my youth.

I Love You, Arizona.

T.

**tundramanq** · 14th February 12, 08:26 AM

"Come to this land of sunshine
To this land where life is young.
Where the wide, wide world is waiting,
(For) The songs that will now be sung."

State song I remember, before the "I love you AZ" (50's & 60's)

Raised in Winslow and Holbrook. Thanks for the memories.

Found the tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w7LM_Vm_YE
Full lyrics are below

**MacBean** · 14th February 12, 09:02 AM

Aravaipa canyon. No path, you have to walk up the river bed. This in late December, is stunning.

**macwilkin** · 14th February 12, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by tundramanq

"Come to this land of sunshine
To this land where life is young.
Where the wide, wide world is waiting,
(For) The songs that will now be sung."

State song I remember, before the "I love you AZ" (50's & 60's)

Raised in Winslow and Holbrook. Thanks for the memories.

Found the tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w7LM_Vm_YE
Full lyrics are below

It's still the state anthem; Rex Allen Jr's tribute is the state song.

T.

**tundramanq** · 14th February 12, 09:21 AM

I found that out.

But your post got me scrambling on-line - I thought my memory was shot.

MacBean - a lifetime isnt enough time to see all the beauty that is Arizona.
I gave up using my camera to take slides after trying to capture the magic and Magnitude of the Grand Canyon.
It just won't fit on film. It requires ALL your senses.

Darn - I'm homesick - I live in Albuquerque NM - time for a little road trip?

**tundramanq** · 14th February 12, 10:40 AM

This is all I have left of this sign on the east end of Winslow that my dad designed and built in the early 50s - the rockwork had a lot of petrified wood in it - wind finally got it around 1980.

The Jackrabbit sign that he designed and built is still standing 60 years later:

A lot of the commerical art on Route 66 in northern Arizona was his, mostly done in the 50s before the good old lead based paint took his health and eventually his life in the early 60s. They just didnt know then. But the indian head paint still looks pretty good for 40 years of sun and sand damage.

**Bugbear** · 14th February 12, 10:58 AM

Thanks for posting the thread, Cajunscot.
Today, there is a light rain down here in the Valley, and the cacti are smiling.

**macwilkin** · 14th February 12, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Thanks for posting the thread, Cajunscot.
Today, there is a light rain down here in the Valley, and the cacti are smiling.

You're most welcome, Ted. I'm feeling a bit "homesick" for the Valley today. Spartan posted this photo several years ago of my old stomping grounds in the North Valley:

T.