Within two hours I was driving out from a cool, foggy, ocean breeze and into a dry, hot, barren landscape. The way things changed so drastically, and in such a short amount of time, did not escape my notice. I think life has done that very thing to many of us in our individual lifetimes. One moment we are enjoying all the roses about to bloom and the next moment someone has snipped off all the buds from the stems. But that is not what this blog is about.
I actually have nice things to say about the desert. I made multiple stops at gas stations and rest areas sometimes for me and sometimes for JoJo. But driving along I began to see an actual beauty in the landscape, such as it was. That evening, as I walked out from my hotel room I noticed a quietness. Sure, there was noise from arriving cars and cranky children, but then there was just silence. I truly appreciated that. If I hadn’t already set up my next motel I might have stayed an extra day, just for the quiet.
I think we go to the ocean to relax. There is the view to fill our eyes. There is the sound of the waves to fill our ears. There is the cold fog in the morning and the afternoon breeze to chill our bones. It takes our minds away from all the “stuff” happening at home.
In the desert there is nothing. There is nothing to catch our beauty seeking eyes. There is no crashing of waves or squealing of seagulls. There is just the quiet and the blank canvas of earth that seems to be sitting there waiting for its moment. And there was me, relaxing into the silence and calm. Now, I wouldn’t want to live there, but, in my mind, a short time of silent bliss does not seem so bad. I wrote two blogs that night. Hmmm?
The desert is not a dead zone. It has life. At a rest stop, I took pictures of the bleak landscape. Then I turned to the two partially bare trees that were just trying to stay alive. As JoJo and I walked up to one tree I noticed a little yellow coloring. Getting closer, I realized that both trees were flowering. I think you have to allow yourself to become a little quiet just so you can notice something like that.
In the silence, I thought about the difference between quiet and loneliness. Someone my age should at least have an age-matched travel mate. I have thought about family and friends, missing them and wondering how they are doing. But I am not lonely. I do not go to bed at night with sighs, feeling I am missing something. I employ the “Don’t Tread On Me” persona which seems to work. Sometimes, I use the “slightly confused little-old-lady questions. I find that the further south I go, the nicer young men treat me. I think I remind them of their grandmothers. Hope they never read my blogs.
And you ask, “What about Barstow?” Nice people. Comfortable hotel. It is definitely a place to stop and allow your cranky children to rest. That’s about all I’ve got for you on that matter.
Next Blog, Phoenix, AZ
Until then, #ontheroadagain
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