Oasis in the Desert

Palm Springs (and its companion towns) is a place that doesn’t make sense. A desert environment with enormous amounts of water for its 100 + golf courses and just about every house in every town with a pool and a hot tub. But ecological issues aside, it’s clearly an attractive area in a state with a lot of competition for attractive areas. A few hours outside of L.A., it became the getaway retreat for various movie stars whose names are now on the streets— Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Gene Autry, Dinah Shore, Bing Crosby, Barbara Stanwyck, Claudette Colbert, Dean Martin and yet more. Its reputation as a place for discretion and liberation, allowing movie stars to be themselves away from the world’s watching eyes, made it a preferred destination for the Gay community as well and soon became a mecca of sorts with Gay resorts and bars.  

 

All of that is interesting, but none of that is what drew us to try it out for a family gathering place back in 2019. With my wife, two daughters, son-in-law and grandkids then aged 4 and 8, the real draw was:

 

1)   Swimming pool and hot tub.

2)   Warmer weather than San Francisco and Portland.

3)   A long, but drivable distance, from San Francisco (Portland folks flying first to San Francisco and spending some time there). 

 

All of which proved to be perfect, with an unexpected extra bonus— great hiking in the surrounding areas! Which we did almost every day. 

 

So with a pandemic break in 2020, this became our go-too place for the next five years, still happily so. In our first two days, we’ve done an 8-mile hike, hung out in the pools, played ping-pong, played basketball in a nearby park, alongside the constant word/card/ board games, great cooking, lounging and reading. Daughter Kerala’s “wuzband” Ronnie exited from the scene, Talia’s boyfriend Matt with us for his second year, grandkids old enough to beat me (sometimes) in ping-pong and hold their own in our spirited basketball game. (And may I indulge in a little pride that at 74-years-old, I survived an intense game with Talia and I against Matt, Zadie and Malik that we barely lost 12-10! The day after the 8-mile hike!). 

 

And so we arrive at the last day of the year. In a life of reflection (as is obvious as I close out the 15^thyear of this Blog), I feel compelled to say something. Of course I do. Re-reading some old journals recently, it was clear what should be obvious. I was—and am— on the obsessive side of ambition. Not to be rich and famous, but to create the opportunities to spread my particular and peculiar thoughts and skills always just a little bit further over the horizon. To honor the hard work and drive needed to keep working as I do, arranging a new year filled with workshops and courses and guest teaching in schools. Today, I’ll send the completed manuscript of my 11^th book to my lay-out person after hours and hours and hours making sure every comma and semi-colon is in place. 

 

At the end of it all, I hope I’ll be remembered as a visionary teacher, but also a kind and caring one. As an okay pianist, but also one who tried to bring a bit of beauty into any room where I played. As a good writer, but one who hoped to use words to shine the light on the glorious promise of all human beings. And here with the family, equally and perhaps more important, as a fun-loving and involved father and grandfather. A husband who tried his best, a devoted son and brother and loyal friend to many. It goes without saying— and now I’ll say it—that I constantly fell short in all of the above, but hey, I did what I could.

 

A little nervous that I’m using the past tense here! I’m still in the game and scoring baskets and have no intention of sitting on the bench or dropping out! Are you listening, Fate? I plan to stick around for a long time and hope you’ll agree. 

Meanwhile, another glorious day awaits, even as it seems a bit cloudy and cooler out there.