I am hugging this rock because I love it. I didn’t want to leave it and really studied how to get it out. Even though it is a basalt rock and has been in that location for millennium, I am sure it wanted to come home with me. It is a lot heavier than it looks. I will have to resign to a visit now and then. Each place we go I assign a memory to a rock and bring it home. Sometimes it’s just a tiny pebble I slip in my pocket (like the time my daughter swam in the freezing cold tide pool at pebble beach). Sometimes it’s a big one (Like the time I told G “Never-mind, you can’t lift that one”…so it’s in our front yard now). My rock memories are everywhere. I need them like Tootles needs his marbles.
G thinks it’s funny to hide random rocks, marbles, weird statues, or anything he finds in the yard somewhere on a shelf for me to discover. It’s become a such a thing that even some of our friends have joined in. While standing in the kitchen after some house guests had left, we found a jade skull among the random rock/marble/statue collection. Another time it was an iron peace sign. He is quite proud of this tradition he started. Some of our best days have been hunting for unusual rocks or panning for gold. Of course it is fine when we are on the road but this time we are flying. We are taking an extra checked bag that is filled with gifts and goodies to leave there. Some see an empty bag, I see opportunity. We can check up to 50 pounds. Not sure how Customs would look at the situation. Hmmm ….. “But Mr. Customs officer sir, they are MEMORY ROCKS! They’re IMPORTANT!” One does not go around taking pennies/wishes out of wishing wells either right? It’s logic, I think they would understand. The Tucson Gem and Mineral Society
Every May the forests of saguaro cactus bloom and hold their bouquets to the sky.
It’s my favorite time of year.
Some birds peck holes in the body of the Saguaro and stuff them with nests for their birdie families. The holes leave scars and when a saguaro dies the scar remains kind of like a leather boot. Ambitious birds made the condos below. Which I turn into what I THINK is art.
Hard to believe there are ribs inside these thorny giants. 
So here is the Saguaro fruit rinds displayed in the Tohono O’Odham tradition to bring the Monsoon rains to the desert. Like magic it rained the next day. There just might be something to these old traditions.
I’m always so thirsty. Uhh, nothing will satisfy the craving. One day I kept track and I drank 22 16oz glasses of water. Maybe it’s the dry air of the desert as we all seem to walk around with our adult sippy cups. I even think about water all the time. I dream of swimming, laughing in the rain, floating on rivers, and sometimes living underwater. I once saw a scary old movie where a fisherman wanted to catch a mysterious mermaid who was singing beautifully to him. I was captivated until…he caught a FISH HEAD with LEGS! Oh and I also believe mermaids must be vegetarians. One could not go around eating their little singing friends like Sebastian or Flounder. I can’t imagine going to a mermaid RedLobster and ordering a Dory with a side of Nemo. I would enjoy the flowing hair and the weightlessness would be graceful. However, if I WAS a mermaid, where does one go to the bathroom? Fish just go poo anywhere. Not so attractive when a mermaid does it. I have questions. I would definitely be a very thirsty mermaid too because I couldn’t drink the poop water. I am just a thirsty land mermaid. (This picture only shows my human legs).
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