It was just me, standing in a parking lot, alone in Holbrook, AZ. 7D was in the Motel 6 behind me, fiddling with the business of getting a room for the night. After a long day’s drive, I took a moment to take in fresh air and stretch my legs. I’ve never been in this part of the Southwest before. Even though this part of the world was your average pit stop off the superhighway, I was determined to take in all I could. Burning each image into the brain for easy callback in a future time.
As luck would have it, that didn’t take much effort. There’s nothing to see in Holbrook, AZ. There’s dirt and sand and more dirt as a topping on that extra bit of nothing. Tiny islands of pale green shrubs dot the nothing. Bright blue skies watch over the rest. It’s that moment that I knew I could never live ina desert climate. Green trees and full, lush grass have dominated my life. Even in the town of Huntsville, you can find more than your share of life springing from the ground.
The desert reveals none of its secrets easily.
I know there are things out there, living in the nooks and crannies. The lack of visual evidence fights that logic.
I decide to call my parents.
I’ve long since learned that no matter how old you are, they still worry about even the littlest adventures you take. Only recently have I accepted the truth of that education. I call partly because of obligation and partly because I wanted to share the experience with them.
A few bits of small talk later I hang up and head back to the room. This is when 7d and I proceed to order and eat the most horrible chinese food we’ve ever dared buy.
I don’t like Holbrook, AZ.
