Part 5: First Day of My Life

The trip is going great. The songs are changing exactly when I change roads. It would be eerie if I had not already come to grips with synchronicity. The radio plays “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon Five, and it plays as I am driving through a less attractive area of the City of Mesa. By less attractive, I mean ugly. Cities can be aesthetically pleasing but not have soul, or they can be ugly while having mucho soul. This stretch of car dealerships, convenience stores, strip malls, telephone wires, and concrete had neither looks nor soul. Pinnacle Peak loomed far ahead, choking in a hot smoggy haze.

I got to thinking, "what gives an area soul?" The first thing that comes to mind is people, and the places where people gather. Just then, a restaurant I have wanted to try called Blue Adobe Grill passes my left window. "That restaurant looks like it has soul." A Carneceria calls on the right. Mesa is redeeming itself. Bob Marley gets on the Radio and sings One Love, reminding me not to be so damned judgemental.

As I drive with the flow of traffic, I compliment myself on my ability to drive long distances without having to brake. It is the art of coasting.

Over the dry Salt River bed and I am now on the Beeline highway. I am not familiar with it, and each bend in the road is a dance with the unknown. Alanis sings You Learn.

The Pima Indian Reservation exchanges concrete boxes for scattered Saguaro, and I am snapping photos while driving. The Saguaro cactus can only be found in the Sonoran Desert, the corner of the world I have called home over a combined 20 years. I think people love them so much because they remind us of ourselves, without the annoying habits of humanity. They are content to just be. They wave to me as I drive by. I see two standing in embrace, making love standing up.

Bright Eyes plays First Day of My Life and I am touched. A few lines jump out at me, and again, I am scribbling while driving.

And so I thought I'd let you know
That these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you had just woke up
And you said "this is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn't die before I met you
But now I don't care I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy"