Adventure 910: Tucson Winter Two/18

Richard Rohr wrote, "Easter is the feast of hope. This is the feast that says God will have the last word and that God's final judgment is resurrection. God will turn all that we (humans) maim and destroy and hurt and punish into life and beauty." 

I pray that he's right because in light of so much tragedy, sadness, unfair death, nonstop war, unjust imprisonment, broken relationships, oppression, and suffering, it takes a strong Christian faith to hold the line.

Rohr believes "... the resurrection of Christ is saying that the final judgment has already happened. It's nothing we need to fear; nothing we need to avoid. God's final judgment is that God will have the last word."

That is my personal anchor. And why I think I'm the luckiest guy on the planet. I wake up each day marveling. I take Mary Oliver's advice, "Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it."

I'm here to tell you, Life is good, especially today.

Who can't marvel at a very blue sky?

Who can't feel the splash of yellow on a spindly spine?

Who can't breath in the puffs of color in a cactus patch?

Who can't smell the goodness in a fry bread taco?

Who can't welcome's the touch of a prickly red cotton ball? 

Who can't revel in a swath of golden poppies?

Who can't endure the deflated sadness of a honorable loss?

Beauty blooms everywhere.

Take time to enjoy the swirl.

As Mary Oliver says, "To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and when the time comes to let it go, let it go."

 

Adventure 909: Tucson Winter Two/17

Our lives have become so routine there hasn't been much to share. That all changed this week when our youngest daughter, Libby, spent four days with us. While the weather could have been better, we had much fun cooking, hiking, exploring, watching movies, cheering on the Zags, and generally enjoying our time together. As an aded bonus, my cousin Joan came to Tucson for the weekend. She's looking to spend next winter here. We took a hike, had dinner, and toured a few neighborhoods looking for suitable housing. It was fun and good to see her. Other than that, our time is fast coming to an end for this season. We head home on April 10 and with traveling mercies, we should arrive at our Perch by the thirteenth. Libby's time here also included her finding a spot for our whole family to spend a week together this coming July. It will be our fourth straight summer gathering most (if not all) the troops in one place. Many things in life are fraught with difficulties. Having family together helps mitigate the angst, and helps make life good. And you know what I say: Life is good, especially today.

Of course, we had to take Libby to Tumerico for some delicious vegetarian Cuban Tacos.

It was a bit cool when we went on our hike with Joan, but since she's been wintering in Park City, Utah, where the snow is deep and the roads are icy, she thought the weather was just balmy.

While not a Tucson specialty, a trip to In and Out is always worthy.

Maybe our best outing was brunch at the Tohono Chul Bistro where Libby and I slurped Prickly Pear Margaritas.

Selfie of the day.

Libby capturing one cactus.

Then a few others.

The ladies enjoying an afternoon Eegees cocktail. Agave tequila provided by Mrs. Drouin.

Thiis majestic saguaro lives midst the palo verde trees at Tohono Chul.

After taking Libby to the airport, Judy and I enjoyed a classic Mexican infused diner breakfast at the very popular (and excellent) Franks/Francisco's. It brought me back to my roots.
 

Art shot of the Day: Don't worry; Be happy. Eat and get out!

Adventure 908: Tucson Winter Two/16

When my son called the other night, he gently chastised me for the lack of blog updates. In my defense, things have been swirling around here more forcefully than a sudden scirocco. We've been volunteering at Cross Street, maintaining our work out schedules, watching the progress of newly hatched humming birds, and spending the last nearly two weeks enjoying longtime friends, the Drouins and the Cramers. That doesn't even count cheering on the Zags through the final stages of the WCC. Whew! This retirement thing is a workout. So, in a nutshell, we ate food we prepared, we ate food others prepared,  we served food we helped prepare to the homeless, and we walked off the  excess calories in the desert. Most of our other living moments, we shared laughs, memories, and newly formed experiences with friends. Needless to say, life is good, especially today.

Here we are on the assembly line putting together Indian Tacos for the morning breakfast.

Ed, Jim, and Karen enjoying a laugh before dinner.

Selfie of the day: Sunset at Gates Pass. Go Zags!

It's hard to get any better.

The baby humming birds just before they left their nest.

Standing on Signal Hill, a location humans have visited for more than fifteen hundred years.

A sneaky selfie.

Deb and Karen catching up with a little chit chat.

Jim raising a toast to the setting sun.

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Ed getting his chakras aligned in Leticia's bowl.

Jim and Karen on their last night in Tucson.

Deb and Ed under the oldest and largest saguaro at Sweet Water.

Art shot of the day: A budding crown atop a favored saguaro.

Sifu Misner bouncing Magdalena during Tai Chi class..

Magdalena, who is Polish, is 94. When I told her life is good, especially today, she agreed, saying, "I know darling, I survived the Nazis, the Russians, and my first husband. How can life be anything but good."

Adventure 907: Tucson Winter Two/15

Tonight is the last night of a great week with Judy's sister Karen (Also known as Klink). We walked in the desert, ate much good food, played a few card games, volunteered at Cross Street, went to church, enjoyed the company of some good friends (David and Ginny Kral; Ed and Deb Drouin), enjoyed a concert in the park, checked everyday on the newly hatched humming birds, completed two puzzles, made some wire sculptures, and generally enjoyed our time together. We've been trying to convince Karen to stay a few more days, but she says she didn't want to start smelling like fish. We'll have to be satisfied with good weather, good times, and the ever present knowledge that life is good, especially today.

More rare than a unicorn, Miss Karen won every hand in the first game of Hollywood Gin. Judy threatened to make her sleep in the garage.

Our good friends, the Drouin's, are here for the week. We enjoyed a nice dinner at their Air B&B.

We walked a little bit in the desert. Here, the sisters are checking out a bird nest nestled in the prickly arms of a Cholla cactus.

We enjoyed some live music at Catalina State Park, played by a group known as Eric Schaeffer and the rest of the trouble makers.

Here the sisters are communing with  the saguaros.

Karen requested a wire sculpture of her and Rod dancing.

Of course, every Tucson visitor needs to enjoy a Sonoran Hotdog.

I think she liked it.

One morning, Karen whipped up this breakfast pizza.

And we lunched at our favorite taco truck, Nene's.

Finally, we had to align Karen's chakras. Like the Beach Boys used to say, "Good, good, good vibrations."

Adventure 906: Tucson Winter Two/14

Judy's sister, Karen, being the savvy traveler she is, caught an earlier flight on the the final leg from Las Vegas, which meant she arrived while it was still daylight. I'm a better driver in the daylight, so thanks to traveling mercies, we braved the after work traffic and safely arrived, even after a call returned us to the airport to pick up Karen's large suitcase, which she thought wouldn't have made the earlier plane. Amazingly, the first trip found us packed like combustible sardines in the going home from work traffic, but by the time we made the second trip, the airport arrival lanes were virtually empty and the freeway was being lightly traveled by people in no particular hurry. Judy had made a trip to the local Mexican market for a smorgasbord of burrito, sweet tamales, and chicken soup, which we snarfed down with glee. That was two days ago, and already Karen can be seen relaxing in the warm Tucson sunlight. This morning, Karen accompanied us to CrossStreet, the food kitchen we've been volunteering at since we arrived. She helped make toast, PPJ sandwiches, and served on the line. We haven't had time for any other adventures yet, but the week is young, and life is still very good, especially today.

The Wiley Cager, posing (happily) with the lemon scone she had to pay for due to a large cribbage debt this month of $.17.

A latte never tasted so sweet, but I'm not  really gloating.

Miss Karen kicking the pineapple slices up a notch or two with cinnamon and brown sugar, making them ready for roasting.

And of course, the sisters have begun their first puzzle,

Judy and Karen warming the first night's Mexican smorgasbord.

Beans and Salsa anyone?

Art shot of the day: Stillness advised to combat a troubled world.