Tucson, Day One

Tucson looks both deeply familiar yet completely alien to me. Because I grew up in the desert in New Mexico (in Albuquerque), I keep looking at everything around Tucson--the mountains, the plant life, even the rocks and the color of the dirt--and feeling like I'm wearing a pair of glasses with the prescription just slightly off. Everything is just a bit wrong. The mountains aren't quite craggy enough, and they are too brown and not purple. The dirt is too pale; not red enough. And it's way, way, way too green.

And then there are the Saguaros.

Standing up everywhere, arms either upwards in prayer or downwards in a beseeching beg, they are so compelling, so incredibly intense, and yet so bizarrely comical that I just can't reconcile them with my memories of the desert (they do not grow in New Mexico, at least not around Albuquerque). They seem like some kind of army of crazed sentinels, perhaps slightly disapproving grandparents watching the approaching development with dismay.

There is so much sun here! I felt drunk with it today by the time we finished breakfast, and after our little hike in the afternoon I felt like I did back in the day when I had the spins and I needed to lie down for a while after boozing it up for hours. I was delirious. I don't remember being able to tolerate so much constant and unrelenting white spectrum light. I've grown accustomed to the softer golden light of Pennsylvania, and I felt like I was being bludgeoned by the sun here, even in sunglasses. I'm sure I'll become used to it by the end of the week--and I shouldn't complain since back home they are in the midst of an ice storm and misery--but it's just so damn BRIGHT. My eyeballs are scalded.

We managed to all avoid sunburn, however, even in t-shirts in direct, unforgiving sun thanks to careful application of sunscreen.

Tori has adjusted brilliantly to the time change, and is sleeping (with a bit of help from melatonin) with ease in the amazingly luxurious hotel we're in. Eating Mexican food that doesn't blow is awesome, I have to say--I'd forgotten what real burritos taste like. I like the car we've rented. But the best part of the trip by far is of course seeing our friends. Seeing Dave is one of the best things that can happen to anyone, and I'm really happy that right now it's happening to us. He's one of my spiritual touchstones, and the first person I've been able to make a long distance friendship work with, and it so easy and awesome hanging out with him. I can't wait to see what he has us do tomorrow.

Comments

[Kermit]

I *love* that scrumptious belly sticking out from under that shirt.

[Sheri]

Keep those vacation updates coming. I love hearing all about it. We are off to Pheonix in April and I can not wait to see that sunshine!!

Keep slathering on the sunscreen and enjoy yourselves. Have a burrito for me!!

[Chickenpig]

Amazing Cacti! I have never seen one in person. They are HUGE.

It sounds like you are really enjoying your vacation :) Drink lots of water and get out of the sun if you start feeling funky. Tori, as usual, is absolutely adorable. Is she examining her belly, or the shadow in this picture?

[Vicky]

I read somewhere else about melatonin, can someone explain to me what it does and does it really help kids fall asleep and if it does where do you buy it?

[kate]

OH! I'm SOOO jealous of your Mexican food experience! I'm a Texan who transplanted to North Carolina, and MAN... The things I would do for good Mexican food would (in the words of the Smiths) make Caligula blush.
I just lovelovelove it.

Take in a few rays of that beaming sun for all of us stuck in the cold and damp and grey. It sounds like y'all are having a lot of fun already.

[jenn]

I moved from Arizona (14 years) to Maine, where they seem to think that Mexican food means smothering something deep-fried in cheese sauce and tossing some pathetic canned chilis on the side. Any way you could Fed Ex me one of those burritos??

Conversely, I used to find that the unrelenting sun and blue, blue sky of Arizona made me long for the more nuanced partly cloudy, foggy, or even drizzly days of the Northeast... now in the midst of a massive blizzard, that seems insane to me.

Have a fantastic vacation!!

[Essie]

Looks beautiful! Glad you are having a wonderful time.

[BRash]

I second the request for Melatonin info. I've used it before, but never thought to try it with my kid. And we just took a 3 week trip to Pakistan and it would've been really helpful!

[dregina]

Have a wonderful trip! I'm so happy y'all have the chance to spend some Feb days in the Arizona sun.

[JuliaKB]

Oh, you sound so up! What an excellent vacation you have going. I hope it stays just as excellent for you.

[Carrie Jo]

Here's wikipedias's info on melatonin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin

It can be found at most drug stores in their vitamin section as well as any health store.

I went to boarding school in Arizona and LOVE the saguaros. They are so fascinating to me.

I hope you guys enjoy the DRY heat and sunshine. :o)

[Natalee]

Sounds delightful! I've never been to southern AZ, but it looks like I need to make a trip!

[Alison]

Tuscon is totally weird. I really liked it when I visited, years and years ago. Alongside the bizarre vegetation is the time warp - it felt like a David Lynch movie when I was there, I mean in a good way.

Of course I have to comment on clothing - I like Tori's prairie skirt! Perfect for her southwest visit:)

[Rebecca]

fell in love with the deserts of Las Cruces. had no idea tuscon was so green. beautiful descriptions.

[Amy in BC]

I am completely envious. Enjoy the trip and the luxurious hotel for me! Tori looks so cute in her western style skirt. And don't get me started on the envy over your Mexican meal experience. Love me some Mexi food!

[Teenuh]

Glad you are having a great time on your trip. The only time I've been to Tucson was when my grandfather died 10 years ago. It was nice for the couple of days I was there. I'll have to go back sometime when I can be a tourist instead of a grieving grandchild.

[Melissa in TN]

I love the Tori belly picture. She is so cute! I bet she has no idea what a fan club she has.

The saguaro pics are too cool. I saw some on the way to Sedona but didn't remember them being that tall. Great photos.

BTW, is that Charlie's DILF shirt? :-)

[Jessica]

I moved to Texas six years ago and I am still not used to all the sun here. Sometimes I wish it would just go away! Have a great trip.

[Jessica]

breathtaking photos! sorry to hear about the full-on toddler probs though. hope they get better.