My grandmother was happiest in Yosemite since she spent many hours there with my grandfather and when my mother was a little girl. They camped, fished on the Merced river and hiked back when there were firefall spectacles off Glacier Point. There are a several photographs of my grandparents in Yosemite, and through osmosis I have always felt a kinship towards the majestic park as it was in the 1940's and 1950's. My parents had their honeymoon at the Ahwahnee Hotel which sits in the most awe inspiring spot in Yosemite. This made Yosemite the ideal place for my Grandmother's memorial last month. The Miwok Indians knew a few things about sacredness and you can feel their energy and presence. What is genius about the grand hotel built by Gilbert Stanley Underwood in 1927, is that what gives the hotel the wood rustic feeling, is in fact concrete painted to match the terrain. That is partly why it has been preserved so beautifully from harsh conditions and fires. The hotel sits in such a magical spot, that from our particular room we could see Half Dome above us and Old Captain to the left of us. It truly was an auspicious way to wake up and greet the day. Be warned though there is usually a 6 month to one year waiting list for reservations.