memories of the desert
1400 miles in 48 hours. Throw in a wedding dinner, wedding, and a couple of great hotels. This was my weekend.
Geo and I had not driven to SoCal since we left there over 17 years ago. We had had a great experience in LA when he attended USC for his PhD, but time marches on, the family grows, and priorities shift. So an invite to a wedding was a great excuse for a getaway, just the 2 of us.
I was really struck by the Mojave on this trip. Interesting in its own way, but dry and scratchy and lonely. We made that trip twice a year between 1989 and 1994 when we would drive from LA to Salt Lake to visit family. Before cell phones. With 2 babies. Yikes.
So now, as we are 120 miles from home, I glance up from my iPad and over at my husband's face. A little drier and scratchier than it may have been 17 years ago when we left California for our new home in Utah. But not lonely like the desert. Not lonely at all.
We are two cedar trees sitting side by side, ready to withstand this life. Together.
14 comments
Those pictures and your discription of the Desert are fab.
I want to know what the good hotels are.. Please share.
Coolio that you had a getaway..:)
Sounds like a busy, great weekend!
Love the desert analogies.:)
We stayed outside of Vegas in Henderson on the way home. That is where these photos are from. Ravella. Italian village setting. Magnifico!
Have to laugh because this was my exact weekend LAST weekend and I am just now going to post about it. Long drive, wedding dinner, wedding, and home. But oh so fun.
We went in the opposite direction as you and it was much colder :-D
P.S. We are native Cali's too except up North - we left 21 years ago.
I love your last line that you are "Two cedar trees sitting side by side, ready to withstand this life. Together.". Beautiful imagery :-D
What a wonderful trip! I love that you got to go back and reminisce. OK, thank goodness for spell correction because I had no idea how to spell reminisce. :)
That first photo is gorgeous!
I love that drive. Love. We made it at least once a year as a family, too. And you said you haven't DRIVEN back in 17 years? Presumably you've flown? Because how do you experience the greatness of SoCal and not go back? :)
I'm glad your husband's scratchy face isn't lonely, as he sits by his fellow cedar.
I'm going with Doc to a conference in San Diego in about a month -- I embarrassed to say I've never been there (more than just a quick trip to the temple for a wedding of a friend) so I have no idea what to do.
BTW, you have such an incredible talent with words...
Interestingly..when we lived in N.Cal we made the drive to Utah at least twice a year with little kids and no cell phones. Those drives are some of my fondest (and frustrating) memories of years ago.
*sigh* Love this. You're a poet, my friend. And I love that about you.
that last paragraph is awesome
two cedar trees....beautiful
I am glad just the two of you were able to have a getaway
Nice little trip down memory lane and lots of luuuuv.
Love these pictures. And your thoughts.
Joel and I actually did go back to Phoenix 3 years after he graduated because my brother married a girl from Mesa. It was still strange and had changed so much in those 3 years. Plus we just felt that "time had marched on" like you say. Seasons in life.
I love it!
Your description of "desert face" is cute.
Sounds like you have put a mile or two onto your car this summer.
LOVE it!
It is always so refreshing to get away for a few days. Sounds and looks like you had a wonderful time.
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