Playing Fair and Being Kind

3-24-14

I write this date at the top of the page and I am not prepared for it. I was born on 2-19-39 – “14” is very close to “39”. Time rules our lives to a great extent; more than many of us are willing to admit. The numbers add up all along the trail especially upon reaching a “certain age”. Mortality forces the sneaking of a peek at the calendar, the clock, the position of the sun in the sky. How did I get here so quickly? I laugh at the thoughts behind the question. Onward!

I spent 4 nights in La Quinta; Gwen and Becky have lived here for quite a while. Their house is large, quiet, and comfortable. I enjoy seeing the beautiful landscaping of the desert now populated. So much green! The palms and the wall coverings, the lawns and plantings by the houses and other structures. So much work to maintain; gives paydays to those willing and able to endure the sun and heat.

There are housing developments and malls beyond belief. Becky informs me that one can find anything within a few miles of their house. I believe it. I suspect once one gains a reasonable level of knowledge of ‘what’ and ‘where’, anything is possible. My difficulty lies in knowing just enough, a few important keys; enough to get hopelessly lost and confused driving through Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and La Quinta. Certainly not like driving through Westmorland or Brawley. But there is that ‘find anything’ quality I strive for and I will obtain it. Patience, Jorge. Patience.

My daughters have 6 animals. There are 5 Schnauzers; Maddie, Molly, Gracie, Sookie, and Bailey plus one cat. The cat’s name is Cee Cee. Cee Cee is my favorite along with Maddie.

As I mentioned the house is comfortable and quiet at night. It was a good visit. I thing 4 days is too long though. Next time I’ll plan on 3 days. 3 days is a universal rule for visiting and I suspect it was empirically derived.

When I left this morning my stomach hurt a little. I thought I was going to upchuck. I’ve not felt like that in a very long time. Later I deduced I was unhappy about leaving.

I spent some time on the way out of town at Dick’s Sporting Goods. I was impressed with this store and with Ace Hardware in Palm Desert also. Both were extremely well stocked; everything I needed or imagined I needed was at hand. The people charged with helping the shoppers were marvelous as well. I purchased a sterno stove and a pot in which to heat water for coffee and oatmeal in the morning. I’ll start with these and add necessities as I go.

While I was in the area and before I began my visit with Gwen and Becky I was able to raise Linda Oliver (now Rippl). She and her brilliant husband Scott met me for lunch in Palm Springs. We had a nice chance to chat and catch up with all the news from the past 34 years.

Before Linda and Scott arrived at the restaurant I idly Googled names of people I associate with Palm Springs. I hit paydirt with old friend Nancy Vanni. On Google images up popped a photo of someone I recognized immediately; Nancy. She is living in Spokane, Washington. I emailed the contact information and she responded within a few hours. What a find! What fun to yell and scream together on the phone. We were such good pals way back in Imperial Beach and South San Diego. When I travel to the Pacific northwest I will stay with her for a while in late April. I look forward to it.

I also found old Navy buddy Scott Scholl from my Navy Drug Rehab Counselor training days. He is living in Carlsbad a town on the coast just north of San Diego. I will see him during my stay in California. I will attach my remembrance of Carlsbad to the end of this blog entry. It was inspired when gazing at an orchid in Owls Head, Maine. Connections!

So…now I’m in Anza Borrego State Park for two nights. My tent works fine now that I’ve re-learned the proper way to assemble the parts. I am so human. 

 

ORCHID

I feel sensual whilst gazing at orchids,

I want to taste the bud,

I want to breathe the air

Close to the petals,

I want to hear waves washing ashore in

Carlsbad, California late at night

When the grunion are running and

I am lying atop you.