We are home!! It was a week filled with family and fun on the river. A nostalgic place with endless memories and a kind of freedom that no longer exists. The colorado river is the freshest, coolest place to be when your in triple digit weather. My family is from Needles, a tiny town off route 66. As the grown ups of the family, now with kids of our own, we planned this desert getaway to bring our families together. In total, we had 4 moms, 14 children, and 10 of them being 4 years old. As crazy as it seems to have that many children in the group, it was a beautiful experience. Watching the kids learn and relate to each other was amazing.
I grew up hearing stories of Needles in the 50's. In my mind I imagine a real Sandlot. Holiday parades on Broadway, fishing at sunset, baseball games in the park, dances at the VW. It's the setting for my award winning movie I plan to direct one day. A diverse mix of Americans combined with the native Mohave Tribe, Needles had a prosperous economy, solid school district, and visitor appeal with the Colorado River. In 1973, the freeway was built and took the life right out of the town. Now this California community is discouraged from growth due to lower tax incentives in Arizona, which is a short ride over the bridge.
I have a passion for the river and preserving this precious life source is vital!
My deep connection to the desert and the Colorado River is something I hope to pass on to my children. Diving into that beautiful body of water gives me life, and I want to make sure it stays here for future generations to enjoy.