Spring Forward

Back from CA...all green and soft and squishy; beautiful but I missed the desert, I missed edges and the grain of rock and plants that poke you in the ass and sunlight that presses against your skull. Plus, just too many people.

The good: Death Valley!!!!!! (see above); elephant seals, sea stars; public transportation in the Bay Area; anti-war signs outside shops...try finding that in Utah. Conservative Utahns would be appalled at the sentiment, but equally so at the idea of having a sign at all. Traditional Utah presents a bland, smiling, non-threatening face to the outside world; the politics is internal to church & home, whereas in California--at least in the Bay Area--I felt like there was a public sphere.

Even though there were way too many people inhabiting it.

But I'm back in the desert, plants are greening...I pulled my first weed today. I can feel that creaky axis tipping, tilting under my feet. I stand with open hands, feel the sunlight on my face and think, it's about time.