9 Comments

Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip. As you probably know, it's now a perfectly crisp October weekend here in the northeast.

A plethora of Trump signs anywhere does sound discouraging, but this may cheer you up:

I recently spent five days in Nashville (where I'd never been before), and I was pleasantly surprised to not see a single Confederate flag *or* MAGA hat!

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The rest of the trip was great. Yeah, I think a lot of the country has wised up to the grifter, but it was discouraging to see one that hasn't.

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So sorry about the weather but glad you found JT quirky and the desert intriguing. Me too. Hope to get back out there soon, maybe next spring for the flowers (🤞).

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The weather didn't stop us much. I think what irked is was not seeing the Aurora at all! But I don't think looking through a phone you see it counts, really ... It just be beautiful in spring.

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I’ve often found nature to be cleansing - but unfortunately these days it doesn’t last very long! This cult mentality is too loud, too widespread, too constant to avoid for long, at least in my area :(

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I saw a lot of nature but to get to it I had to pass through cult country.

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When I think of how many people I know broken by working in the service industry during various heights of Covid … one study found that the highest rate of death as far as professions went was line cooks. Makes sense. I’ve worked in many kitchens, and aside from close quarters, long hours, and exposure to a lot of people, air quality isn’t exactly a top concern.

Such a beautiful trip you’re on, though. I’ve only been to Palm Springs once and kept thinking how it shouldn’t exist. All those dry canal beds! Next to irrigated golf courses! But the desert really does heal. The Coachella Valley was nothing like what I thought it would be. The deeper southwest always calls to me. What a great time of year to be there, too. Don’t die out there!

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We survived, and I'm on a plane home. The quirky town of Joshua Tree was more my speed than Palm Springs, though I was spoiled by the Michelin Star rated Tex-Mex food. The fish tacos at the JT saloon were damn good, and they kept the beer cold. I will return to explore again.

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One of my best friends locally is determined to move to Joshua Tree someday. Too much sun for me to stay long, but I’d visit her there if she went.

Safe trip home. :)

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