Desert Rain

It rained on our summer solstice this year.

We, here in the desert southwest, are in no position to look that particular gift horse in the mouth. The creosote was brown and near-dead prickly pear dangled along the streets in the Old Pueblo. I've never witnessed that before.

The classic, perfect and traditional starting date for our monsoon season is San Juan's Day (my ex's birthday) June 24th. According to legend, if the monsoon season starts on San Juan's Day ... it'll be plentiful. But if it starts before the 24th, some sort of disaster may be in our future. If it starts after the 24th, it'll be a "dry" monsoon season. Some sort of disaster may be in our future ... but we're used to that. The developers keep developing and the builders keep building and the real estate salesmen keep selling. The bankers and politicians keep telling us everything is O.K. and we keep believing them. But, by the time we here in the desert start drinking sewage ... they'll all be living in luxury in southern California anyway. But ... that's in the far off future. Maybe global warming will work for us, and we won't have to start living like the characters in DUNE after all. A savior may show up ... or maybe just giant Sand Worms.

But, for now, we have water. Not a lot yet, but more June rains than we are used to. And in July, it has been raining daily at my humble abode. However, the poor airport isn't doing as well as we eastsiders are and the official precipitation numbers aren't as good as ours. Today, we had our first REAL monsoon. Buckets full for over an hour. What a great afternoon! Too bad that I was working. I have to work tomorrow, but only until mid-day. So, hopefully, I'll get to walk in the rain in the afternoon. I certainly hope that you-all (you guys) are enjoying your weather as much as I am enjoying mine.

Peace.

Love from the desert