Adventure 858: Day 81/Tucson/2023

The adventures are starting to wind down. Today, after breakfast, we ventured once again to our favorite hiking spot, Sweet Water Preserve, to hike the Desperado Loop, the only trail in the Preserve we hadn't traversed. We hiked nearly five miles, and up until the backside of the loop we traveled through scrub country filled with more dead plants than I remember seeing. Once we made the turn, we again walked through a copse of living, breathing saguaros. As usual, they were magnificent. We do enjoy walking in the desert. The weather was perfect, the temperature right around 65 degrees, and the sky that pleasant blue color, the one that warms the spirit. Afterward, since it's the last weekend of March Madness, we spent the afternoon watching the women play. Oh, my! They're fabulous. I remember as a kid, long before Title IX, officiating a game at Holy Names Academy. The girls, who at the time lived in a culture that thought they should "glow" rather than sweat, were allowed six players on a team. Three played on offense, Three played on defense. An offensive player was allowed just three dribbles before she had to pass. The three on defense were not allowed to cross half court. Times have changed. I'd have to say that women today no longer worry about "glowing", except in the rapture of a hard fought victory. It's a great pleasure to watch them perform, to watch them give their all, to watch them display their skills, to watch them handle victory and defeat with grace. In that they definitely provide a glowing example of how the game should be played. They make life good, especially today.

After most likely somewhere near two hundred years, this guy just fell where he stood.

The first half of the Desperado Loop follows a wash, which is mostly scrub brush and ocotillos.

The panoramic view along with the wide open sky raises my spirits.

This decaying barrel cactus is hollow, yet probably still provides shelter for some desert creature. I didn't check.

This dead saguaro left an imprint much like a shadow, giving me rise to consider the cycle of life.

This living saguaro seems like a hotel for the birds.

And finally, this prickly pear returns to the earth from which it came; just another living thing following God's plan. Today is the day the Lord hath made; Rejoice in it.

Adventure 857: Day 80/Tucson/2023

Yesterday, on our way to Mt. Lemmon we turned an exit too early. Realizing this, I turned on my blinker asking the long line of cars if they would let us back in the flow. One driver did. He yielded his time (Just a few seconds), his place in line (one car back), and I waved in appreciation. It didn't cost him much to act in such a kind way. In fact, he may have even felt better for the act. The idea of yielding in Tai Chi is not giving up or surrendering or capitulating or knuckling under. Rather, it is yielding to life energy. It is building the sensitivity to feel where the energy is going in your own body and learning how to flow with it, follow it, rather than blocking it with your own physical tension, your own mental agenda, or the artificial  motion you rely on when you move without mindfulness. Yielding is a skill I'm trying to develop not just in my Tai Chi practice, but in my life, too. This skill is critical in allowing others to go their own direction, to feel the flow of events in a smoother way, to allow the insults and stresses of daily life roll off me so they don't result in hurtful impact or injury. The principle is simple: yield yourself and follow the external forces. Instead, most people  ignore this simple principle and reach for a more remote and impartial method. They lust for power or they clutch their craggy fingers around the need for greed. I don't want to be like most people. I want to be content being part of the whole, part of the river of life, no better, no worse than the next. I believe if more people would practice yielding the world would be a better place. As for me, my life is good, especially today.

Be like the mountain: ever still, ever yielding.

Every day we have a chance to make our world better.
 

Adventure 856: Day 79/Tucson/2023

The temperature reached eighty-six today, and I heard my Bunny say, "It's almost too hot." So we hit the road for an adventure. First, we stopped at a new taste treat we found by accident coming home from church last Sunday. It's a family run operation called Buendia, which we didn't stop at on Sunday because there was no room in the parking lot. Today, we stopped by a little after one, and they had one table open. It will be on our tour list from now on. The atmosphere welcomed us, the food pleased our eyes and our stomachs, and we left with full hearts heading for Mt Lemmon, which is just 27 miles Northeast of Tucson, but takes 90 minutes to get to the top due to the winding and climbing. Tucson's elevation is 2388. Mt Lemmon's elevation is 9171. We didn't get that high, but we did cross the 8000 foot mark. The road climbs first through a large forest of majestic saguaros, then through a bit of scrub mesquite to some scraggily pines and finally to big pine trees whose trunks stick up out of the snow banks. The wind was howling, and from one vista I swore I could see Mexico. We finished our adventure this evening watching one of the lovey dovey movies Amazon Prime likes to produce. The movie, Journey of My Heart, is totally saccharine, sort of Cinderella meets the Milky Way. Unbelievable, but way better than fake news any day. I recommend it because a good dose of fantasy makes life good, especially today.

The grade climbs a thousand feet every two miles.

Quite a few "Rich Mitches" scattered on the mountainside.

These homes are bigger than they look.

After the saguaro forest, the moonscape begins.

Lunch interlude: The table centerpiece.

Chicken Mole enchiladas with rice and salad for Judy.

Dorado Tacos (shredded beef and potatoes)  with a side of beans for me.

Alien sighting.

So steep the guy on the right had to rest.

The view from Windy Point Vista. Temperature 64. Wind speed about 20 mph-enough to blow a hat off a bald guy.

Adventure 855: Day 78/Tucson/2023

We got the Franz's safely to the airport this morning, and by now, they're likely tucked into bed and Kara and Troy's house in Wichita. Despite our maladies, we had a good week, much as we always do when we get together. I'm not sure how many adult siblings spend time together like Judy and Karen do. I know in my own family it's rare. I also know that it's gratifying, and we feel lucky to spend time together. As for other realities, our time is winding down here in Tucson. I resisted the urge to begin packing things up, choosing instead to enjoy the day. I especially enjoyed stretching this month's lead in cribbage. We didn't play last week, opting instead to play Hollywood Gin. Right now, I'm $.92 ahead of the Cager with two days to go. I know how fickle the finger of fate is, so I won't count my pastries just yet. Instead, I'll rejoice in the fact that life is good, especially today.

I walk 1.5 miles to my Tai Chi class, usually on this street. The sun is setting on the experience, which is bitter sweet.

My route also takes me by this guy who despite a lack of apparent water, still manages to produce a plethora of arms.

It was nice to sip a cold one on the patio today. 83 degrees feels pretty good, especially in the shade.

Maybe Mimi will have better luck when we get home and she gets some help.
 

Adventure 854: Day 77/Tucson/2023

Pretty good day in the desert. Judy worked out. I met with Sifu Misner. Then the adventures began. We started off with a standard-El Nene's-our favorite used to be taco truck turned corner hot spot. Rod and Karen loved it. They even got to-go tacos for the plane ride tomorrow. Then we visited the Arizona Inn, a magnificent complex of casitas, formal dining room, bar, library, swimming pool, clay tennis courts, reading room, and manicured grounds. The inn was built  at a time when Tucson had a population of about 30,000. Patrons would arrive in Tucson by train, bulging steerage trunks in tow, and take a dusty, bumpy ride two miles into what at the time seemed like endless desert. Rooms cost $12.00. Nowadays the fare is a bit higher, more like $300.00. The Inn, a magnificent complex covering 14 acres is largely unchanged since opening in December of 1930. However, the expanse of desert has been replaced by urban sprawl, making the Inn a gem fairly hidden in the midst of the city. After touring the Inn, we drove around the historical neighborhood for a bit before making our way to the Time Market, a hot spot just west of the University campus. There we enjoyed a cookie and a little people watching in the bustling establishment. The place is eclectic: excellent wood fired pizza, a coffee bar, a specialized high end grocery section, and several coolers holding various beverages. U of A students come to study, mingle, have lunch, etc. Tourists and Snow Birds like ourselves add to the mix. At home, we fixed dinner out of the freezer, which once again qualifies as pretty tasty "thin gruel." We finished the evening with a final game of Hollywood Gin. We've played eight games this past week. Miss Karen won six. So, for her (as well as the rest of us), life is good, especially today.

Carne Asada burrito, El Nene style.

Elegant in 1930. Nostalgic in 2023.

The Arizona Inn has seventy nine casita style rooms sprinkled about the complex.

The formal dining room.

Cookie Monsters.

White clothes and soft sneakers, please.

Two clay courts.

After cookie grins.

Art shot of the day. Pueblo, rich white guy style.

The cactus are beginning to bloom.

The ladies tried their hand at ping pong. (That's table tennis my good man).

Though Karen won nearly every game, here Judy celebrates laying down her whole hand.

A second art shot; Celebrities can often be seen at the Inn, mostly incognito.

Adventure 853: Day 76/Tucson/2023

Good news! Though weak, Judy turned the corner on her illness. She kept food down, felt good enough to play a game of Hollywood Gin, and stayed awake for the entire day. I, too, have progressed. I'm now in the exquisitely annoying stage of constantly dry hacking. I feel like a stoner of old who's kissed a few too many bongs. The good news is I no longer emit any disgusting body fluids, so maybe after nearly two weeks of this malady, I may get a reprieve soon. Our day started with church service at Southside Presbyterian, which once again left us inspired. I've never had such joyous feelings about organized religion. The congregation, while small, is tightly bonded, infinitely generous, and led by a woman who epitomizes the best of those who walk with Jesus. Judy and I are thinking of maintaining our attendance through Zoom when we get home. Another highlight of the day is watching a couple of doves build their nest right outside the kitchen window. Doves, another species that mate for life, provide a nice example for us to follow. And, of course we watched basketball for the better part of the afternoon. Even though our teams were knocked out of the tournament, the games played today were high level excitement. All in all, we're just grateful that life is good, especially today.

Thin gruel: Scalloped potatoes and ham. Judy and I brought much of the fare we had in our freezer to Tucson with us. Rod and Karen are helping us dispose of it.

The doves.

And another couple of lovey doves.

Not to be out done, this quail has been perching on the fence the past few days, wistfully calling for a mate.

Adventure 852: Day 75/Tucson/2023

Not much in the way of adventure to day. Kansas State couldn't make a free throw, so they fell to Florida Atlantic in a hard fought battle. The Zags were exposed in every area by a superior UCONN team, which has beaten every team it's faced by at least fifteen points. If they continue playing the way they played tonight, they'll be hanging a championship banner up in their rafters. It's always sad to see the home team lose, but a 31-6 record and a run to the Elite Eight still looks pretty good on the resume. Judy and I continue to fight our respective illnesses. My hacking respiratory illness has turned into an annoying dry hack, which I guess is better than coughing up green loogies. Judy's ailment has her suffering a loss of voice, ultra low energy, and a queasy stomach. She slept most of the day, which is highly unusual. Karen has bounced back from her one day queasiness, and so far, Rod has remained bug free.We'll see what tomorrow brings, but in the meantime life is good (despite our infirmities), especially today.

My poor Bunny trying to sleep it off.

Five showings so far, no buyer yet.

Rod taking it easy, which he does well.

Miss Karen working on a project in the warm desert sun.

Adventure 851: Day 74/Tucson/2023

Woke up to a cool, clear morning on a day destined to tickle the mercury near seventy. Our plan, rain or shine, had us walking into the Poca Cosa (The Little One) just after it opened at 9. It's our favorite spot, and even though we've taken most of our guests there (four visits now this year), once again it didn't disappoint. Both couples shared the Surprise Plate, which were different combinations. Yum! We returned home for a little rest and a second round of Hollywood Gin, which Miss Karen won. Then we headed out to the Sweetwater Preserve for a short walk through the cactus. While not in full desert bloom, the preserve showed speckles of purple and white, lots of green, and full fields of wild yellow mustard. Thanks to the recent rains, the cactus are plump. They seem to stretch their trunks like fat men after a meal. After the walk, we watched a movie called Otto starring Tom Hanks, who performed brilliantly as usual. The movie, much about loss, frustration, and sadness, ambushed me. I wept through most of it, and what made it even more painful was the emotional bludgeoning one underlining theme presented. The villain, corporate greed and insensitivity, represented in no subtle manner by the realty company, Dye & Merica, clearly posited that only money matters. People matter not, especially the disenfranchised, the disabled, the cisgender, and anyone even hinting of being on the spectrum. The movie also captured the devastation a person feels losing a partner, a true love, a career, and most of all, a soul mate. Having said this, the movie is well worth watching. There is a final message that human kindness is a great power, a power that deserves its own reward. But beware. For me, the movie ripped open quite a few scars. I wasn't ready for the pain. Nevertheless, I followed my own advice and let the anguish surge unfettered up my back and neck. I just let it burn. But no matter. True fantasy as real as anything these days soothed me as we watched March Madness games for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Nothing is quite as joyful as watching young gladiators pour their entire being through an orange ring. After all, it's passion that makes life good, especially today.

Our Surprise Plate consisted of greens, pineapple, enchilada, baracado beef, vegetable corn chowder, corn tortilla, and a sweet corn tamale on the side.

Tai Chi cactus.

Look, Honey, it's twins.

Maybe more impressive than the cactus, is the expanse of the desert sky.

My Bunny suggesting a route.

The symmetry of God's world suggests there is a plan greater than we can perceive.

There's reason for hope when the two hundred year olds find it reasonable to give birth.

The crew.

Courage is rewarded, though it may be brief. (I suggest reading  William Ernest Henley's poem, Invictus)

Put 'er there, Sis.