In the mid-1980's my mom went on a small radio tour to promote her previously published book for people with lactose intolerance and milk allergy. A pioneer at the time, she was one of the few experts out there doing the work to help people everywhere find new ways to enjoy dairy-free foods and help mothers raise their children without milk. As the rise in "Got Milk" ad campaigns across the states left parents without much mainstream support, my mom wrote and delivered a quarterly newsletter with the latest research and recipes, creating a safe space for these conversations long before milk alternatives became popular coffee shop must-haves.

This radio tour led her to Arizona, with stops in Phoenix, Flagstaff, and finally Sedona, where she picked up a couple of rocks and lots of inspiration to bring home to us. My preteen heart burst with curiosity when she arrived with tales of magic and mystery that Sedona left her with, and I knew that someday I'd love to visit...