Month: April 2018

Stretched in All Directions

The green branches of a foothill palo verde tree grow in many directions at Pinnacle Peak Park in Scottsdale, Arizona

As soon as I arrived in Arizona for my interview in February I was struck by the green trees I saw as I drove around town. The palo verde is the state tree of Arizona, the green in the bark contains chlorophyll so they can use both bark and leaves for photosynthesis. I came across this one shortly before sunrise when I visited Pinnacle Peak Park in Scottsdale. We have accomplished a lot in the past six weeks but there is still a lot to do, I feel a bit like this tree, sprawling in all directions, a bit worse for the wear, but still standing, still growing.

Welcome to Arizona

A cactus wren perches on a saguaro cactus with the moon in the background

It’s been a busy week since we moved to Arizona but now it was time for some fun. I got up at 5 a.m. this morning (that wasn’t fun) and headed to Pinnacle Peak Park, the park I visited the day after I interviewed in February but now with time to hike the entire trail instead of just sampling hiking in the desert. As soon as I hit the trail, before the sun even rose above the horizon, I met this cactus wren perched on a large saguaro with the moon in the background, my first new wildlife species in our new home.

What a beautiful welcome to Arizona.

You Are The Everything

Our cats Trixie and Sam snuggling near the door as we prepare to move on March 29, 2018. Original: _DSC5087.ARW

I’m very scared for this world,
I’m very scared for me.
R.E.M., “You Are The Everything”

Trixie was increasingly on edge in the month prior to the move. When the movers arrived the day before, we kept her in the bathroom with her brothers while they packed up our belongings and loaded them on the truck. The next morning as I loaded up the cars, she sat beside the glass door watching me come and go. I was afraid she was going to try to get outside but she never did, it was her way of trying to relieve the stress. Brother Sam came up and laid down beside her and, in the shadow of her hero, she was able to find some solace. Scout used to do this for Sam, so it was heartwarming to see him return the favor and even gain some comfort himself from his young sister.

The movers arrived yesterday to deliver our things to our rental house and it amused me to see this scene play out again in the evening, with Sam curling up with Trixie as she slept in my office.