I recently spent a few days in Joshua Tree upon my return to the USA. Coming from Japan, it was surreal to be walking through the Mojave Desert. I was suddenly in the old west full of cacti and cowboys. The land is bright and the views vast. Shadows stretch long in the heat of the day and it’s a wonder that life survives in such a climate. Joshua trees are abundant here and a rock landscape formed more than 100 million years ago provides the backdrop. Big boulders piled high make meditative paths for those wanting to find a way to the top.
We sat on top of our own conquered pile of rocks, pondering life and the tiny space in time we’ve occupied. It’s a big, ancient universe we live in and I was glad to be back on my own continent. It was only a matter of a few weeks before I would fly home. I spent my days with new friends and old, listened to live music under an amazing moon and curled up around a fire before bed. As we slept, the world kept spinning and time edged its way forward. One day I woke to the desert being a memory and I was drifting closer to the sweet finale of my trip.
Welcome back Sheri. If you ever want to visit Rochester, I’d love to see you, and you’re welcomed. Just let me know.