Joshua Tree Vol. 2

November 3rd. 
Election day in the U.S. 
A day most of my bubble of like minded thinkers and I have been waiting for for nearly 4 years. 

The day starts at a deck overlooking the desert mountains, with a badass class taught by my fave instructor at The Class (shoutout to Natalie - you're the BOMB!). A challenging cardio class followed by guided meditation. Three quarters into the class, Natalie played the song 'I'll Rise' by Ben Harper. A cover adaptation of the famous words by Maya Angelou. It was a very appropriate choice of song for a day like today, and I felt every inch of that song. The tears came as fast as my heart was beating in the cardio sequence moments before.
As the words 'I'll rise' kept sounding on... two hawks in the sky made their gliding dance with each other, reminding me of nature and how it's always evolving. Always there hovering above, or lurking below. Once again I was reminded who's the boss: It isn't my small mind or the president of the United States. It's nature in all her glory. We are merely her visitors...

In the early afternoon, after a coffee stop in the quirky town of Joshua Tree, we head to the park. I flash my National Park card to the park rancher with pride, and get right through to the wondrous site of Joshua Tree National Park.
Quickly I geek out on the countless Joshua trees in all their whimsical shapes and forms. I notice how they stand spaced out from one another, keeping their social distance. They, unlike other forest trees, don't bother fighting for space to reside in. They co-operate, knowing they must give each other space to survive. 'Very 2020'  I think to myself. 'Us humans are so behind... we need a global pandemic to learn to give each other space, and even then so many of us fight it.'  The Joshua trees here know their environment, and they know how to survive. At first look - they may all look similar with their quirky shapes, but I notice quickly how different they are. While they are made of the same elements - they operate and shape and shift in very different ways from one another. They are individuals and yet a collective. Each of them unique and yet connected to each other. Much like humans. 

We continue exploring the area and climb on some rock formations. The rocks are all unique in their curves and shapes, but I'm no geologist so I have no clue why and what they really are. But I don't need to know too much to have fun climbing on boulders, and enjoy their beauty. 

We then come across the Cholla gardens. Cholla are prickly cacti that have unique coloring and attributes. They look like creatures in their sister-like shapes to Joshua trees or sea corals, but their colors and textures are captivating and different than anything else I've seen. I wonder, are they trying to lure me in? Or are they trying to threaten me away? I don't know. And it seems that perhaps they haven't decided that either. I am filled suddenly with empathy for the undecided Cholla. Does she reminded me of myself? Hmmm... I'll ask my therapist on that.

Sunset at an observation point is everything you'd think it is: landscape, colors, perspective. And add to the mix a single loner Joshua Tree away from its peers, observing at the valley below. Snapped a picture and called it a day. 

10pm and I am now glued to the live streaming of the U.S. election. Sigh...
An escape and a day full of nature wanderings sure helps manage the anxious heart rate, but the curiosity is rising and the numbers are shifting back and forth. And so here I am in my escape, wishing I opted for an airbnb WITHOUT wifi for a change. That's a first. 

The adventure continues tomorrow... in the desert, and in the political climate of the United States of America. 

*Photo by Tamar Pelzig