The evening sky slid into place as my feet padded against the trail’s pavement. In the distance the pink and purple sky spread across the mountains beckoning me to keep my head up to witness the miracle of nature in all its glory. All about me the saguaro dot the landscape of the desert, as if giant men were running here and there with their arms up in surrender. All the while, the vibrant sage- brush awoke my senses to the smells only experienced after a quick shower in the dry hot surrounding. Yellow flowers danced as a slight breeze caught their petals and made them flit and flutter. I was on my evening walk.
The discovery of the Arizona desert never ceases to amaze me since my arrival to the state. No matter the time of day, the week or season, there is always something new to discover in this unique state. I say this with a wealth of experience and knowledge as I have lived around the world, and been to every state in the United States, and yet, it is here that I have seen some of the greatest creations of nature.
I can’t help but giggle thinking about the Sundevil mascot of Arizona State University. One would imagine only a devil would want to live in a place so hot, so dry, filled with thorns on almost every plant, with fairly dangerous animals scurrying here and there – snakes, coyote, mountain lions and bobcats. But I now live here, and I assure you, I’m not a little devil. I am a lover of nature and beauty and this state has so much to discover.
Most people don’t realize that the state also contains the Grand Canyon, the beautiful rock formations of Sedona, the ski lifts of Flagstaff, the ghost towns near the Mexican border and the resorts towns of Snow Globe and Page, just to name a few. It’s diverse and yet, worth the visit to discover it’s wonders.
There are those that would beg to differ, stating the heat alone makes it a state too unbearable to inhabit. But couldn’t the same be said of the cold of the Northern states of the US? It’s hot as many months as the north is cold. You see, as my tag line so nicely states, There’s a whole world out there to discover. Take time to look around you, that is exactly what I am doing when I am out and about in the desert. It’s worth a stop if you are in the west for sure. Just take a walk in the evening and you will be hooked.
There’s a whole world out there to discover. Take time to look around you, listen more closely. You’ll find you’re a better person because the world got bigger because you dared to explore.
