Blooming in the Desert

Prickly Pear blooms, marching into spring

The desert is a harsh, unforgiving, relentless, sometimes cruel, environment.  The Mojave Desert is especially harsh, so when Spring comes, I take this as my time to learn from nature the most fundamental and spiritual lessons of the year:  How to be my glorious self while living in a harsh, unforgiving, relentless, sometimes cruel, place.  

I have come to realize that most likely, my roots will remain planted here for the time being, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it is a tricky thing, transplanting a plant from one environment to a complete other environment and expecting it to flourish.  Especially a full-grown plant.  Ok, yes, I know I'm not a plant, and that adaptability is what makes us humans such fabulous creatures, the envy of all living things (except ants and cockroaches, of course....I listened in on the ants making their annual trek up to my back patio the other day, and I distinctly heard their marching tune: "P-shaw! P-shaw! Eat them apricots, Raw!"  But, I think adaptability has a component to it that in my case, when thinking about relocating to Norway, was missing:  Desperation.  Real desperation.  Not intellectual desperation born of angst and frustration born of lofty idealism.  But real, life/death situation desperation.  The kind my father had during the War in Poland.  The kind my cousin had in Communist Poland after the War.  The kind that could just kill your spirit if you let it and you know that this desperation will limit your lifespan by a measurable percentage.  The kind that finally whips out the gun and blows the challenges to smitherines, like Indiana Jones blowing away the dude with the knives. But, I have a good job.  We have a little money in the bank.  We have a cadre of friends and family.  


This is my life, and I'm actually ok with it.  I'm not ok with so much of my environment (ie: my country's government, politics, corporate welfare, lack of good gun control laws, etc.), but I have managed to flourish in spite of it all.  Just like these guys:

Cholla

Apache Blossom

I confess, I don't know this one

Mexican Bird of Paradise

Palo Verde tree

Yucca

Not sure the name, but the color is stunning

Datura

Desert Marigold

Bottle Brush

Yucca

Desert Cliff Rose

Wherever we find ourselves to be, I think it's imperative to make the most of who we are, regardless of what the environment offers for our nourishment.  Hell, if plants can make a go of what the Mojave has to offer, can't I find some solace in the midst of this wasteland we call our country?