HOT DAYS, STARRY NIGHTS

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

7 May 2018

12:00 noon…

It was hot. So hot it was almost unbearable. With no shade in sight, we sat in the car, making lunch and watching the flies swim through the windows. The car next to us had turned into a rusty black oven. The pasta water boiled in an instant, and evaporated from the dusty sidewalk just as quickly.

small wonders of the day:
halos of light caught around everything, and watching Ollie play the dare-devil with a stick, poking the dangerous jumping cholla cacti.

9:00 pm…

After lunch we retired from the sun, and waited till nightfall to return to the desert. The sunset was purple, then inky jet black, bruised and spotted. I waited for the stars, wondering what animals move in the darkness here. I must admit I was nervous about the scorpions.

small wonders of the night:
an owl on the wing, a silent darkness swooping between the stars…