Sedona Story

SEDONA, AZ– April 21-23, 2011, Sedona Story celebrated its Grand Re-Opening in conjunction with Earth Day. Sedona Story, located at 207 North State Route 89A, in Uptown Sedona, hosted performances by popular local Sedona artists including African drumming by Three Trees, Jesse Kahlu flute, Improvised Modern dance dedicated to the Earth by Yolessa Lawrinnce, a traditional Korean Samulnori band and Mother Earth Hula by store manager, spiritual intuitive and Hawaii native, Hansori Keliikuli. For 3 days Kellikuli also gave free in-store vortex and chakra mini workshops. Now residing in Sedona, she performs healings, readings and consultations for anyone seeking her services.

The official kick-off ceremony took place on April 21st. Mayor of Sedona, Rob Adams gave a warm congratulatory speech, along with several others Sedona VIPs. During the official ceremony the Sedona Story Writing Contest winner was announced and awarded a $300 shopping spree to the store. Cindy Ruda won the shopping spree and Alyssa Lewis from Big Park Community School won an honorable mention. “Free love” message cookies were handed out to all who stopped by the store to take part in the festivities.

Kellikuli commented, “I’m so happy and grateful that so many people joined us to celebrate Earth Day and our Grand Re-opening. I hope Sedona Story can be a mecca for visitors and residents who love Sedona as much as we do. We’ll try hard to deliver the Sedona spirit to all.”

From March 15 to April 15, 2011 Sedona Story accepted submissions for the Sedona Story Writing Contest. Contestants were asked to submit their personal Sedona Stories in 500 words or less.

WINNER
FULL STORY

http://www.sedonastory.com/2011/04/21/beside-himself/

HONORABLE MENTION
FULL STORY

http://www.sedonastory.com/2011/04/21/with-me-forever/

By: Alyssa Lewis from Big Park Community School

Ring…ring. The phone kept ringing. When finally my Mom answered it,
I was sitting on the couch, all of the sudden my Mom burst out in tears. In my head I kept thinking to myself, “What could have possibly happened to make my mom cry like that?” She looked at me funny and said, “Alyssa.” In a whimpering voice, when she nodded at me like that, a thousand thoughts came to my head one in particular I was thinking, “Please God don’t let it be my Mom’s friend who is dying of many types of cancers and is hurting her badly.”

She got off the phone and said to me, “Alyssa Grandma Geneva is in a
different and happier place, she passed away in her sleep about an hour ago. One reason was because of heart failure only 35% of her heart was working at that time and the doctors are still trying to figure out the other possibilities that also could have caused that.” Once that information entered my head I immediately burst out in tears. I just couldn’t control myself. She meant so much to me and now she’s gone.

As a day passed, the weather here in Sedona got rainy, cold, and just
plain-out-bad. My Mom had to pack for Phoenix for the ceremonies there. She was going to stay there for a week, while my brother and I stayed at a friend’s house. The night before she left I prayed like crazy. All I was asking for was, “Please God, let my Grandma be safe and taken care of, don’t let her suffer anymore. Please let her be with my family and I forever, and take some of the grief off of my Mom.

Many days passed, when finally at 4:00 P.M. my Mom arrived home.
She picked up my brother and I up from our friend’s house. We got home it was late and windy outside, I thought the weather could have been a sign saying, “Geneva is now an angel her spirit forever be with you and she has passed.” My brother and I just started to finish unpacking all of our things we brought. My Mom wanted us to go to the living room and wait while she got some things my Grandma Geneva owned. It made me sad to see these things she used to touch, hold, or even love. Some of the things that she had saved were for me in case she passed soon she wanted me to have them. Every time I look at the tiny gifts she gave me I always will think about Grandma Geneva. She will never leave my side and be in my heart forever.

By: Cindy Ruda

He sat, as if in a stupor, staring at the majesty of the place I’d come to call home. A whim had led me to Airport Mesa that day, where I intended to enjoy a scenic hike, but when I spotted the man looking so forlorn, my intention took a detour.

The man seemed beside himself with confusion and disbelief. I’ve never seen anyone more mystified. When I asked if he was alright, he answered me in a shaky voice.

“I don’t know what I’m doing her,” he said, “or what it’s all supposed to mean. I’ve been in Phoenix on business, and since I’ve got a couple of free days, someone suggested I drive up and see Sedona. I didn’t know anything about this place, but figured I’d take the drive and see what was up here.”

As he continued, it was apparent something extraordinary had happened.

“When I was a kid,” he went on, “I had a series of repetitive dreams. They all took place somewhere I’d never been. I didn’t know if the place was real or not, but it had striking red mountains and incredible landscapes. This is the place from my dreams.”

He turned to me with pleading eyes and moaned, “What does it all mean? I don’t know what to do.”

I understand the mystery of being guided to a destination. It happened to me in that uncertain period before I moved to Sedona and a state I’d never seen. While my urgings to come here were considerable, my fears were equally strong. Yet for weeks before I moved, I felt confirmation at every turn.

Whenever I’d go into a bookstore – which was often – I’d turn around and see a picture of Sedona on the nearest book jacket. Similar images showed up in gift shops and once on the coffee table of a stranger’s home. If I was uncertain about my choice of destination, the universe kept “telling” me I was on the right track.

But this man who sat before me clearly didn’t know what had happened to him. While I was moved by his story, I had to leave him there without any answers. I could only try to calm his worried mind.

“There’s surely some reason why this has happened,” I assured him. “You must be ready for whatever it is.” He simply nodded, grateful I think to have someone hear his tale. When I finally rose to leave, he was still staring at the views in bewilderment.

I realized later that I hadn’t asked for his name or phone number, but more than once, I’ve thought of that man and wondered what happened to him. How did he incorporate this mystery into his life? How did it change him? Has he returned to Sedona? Does he live here now? Unless I encounter him again somewhere, I’ll never know the answers to my questions. But it hasn’t kept me from wondering.