We traveled east, from the southern coast of California, into the treed hills around Julian, then down, down, down, into desert country. Our destination was the town of Borrego Springs, within the state’s largest, Ansa-Borrego State Park. Our plan was to spend 2 weeks our here… doing….well, we’re not sure.

[Editor’s Note: The wife, said wonderful lover, friend, and traveling companion, did not necessarily agree that 2 weeks was a good idea nor did she have much say in the matter. This was all the braniac’s decision….just saying.]

So here we are, elevation 53 feet, ½ hour from Salton Sea, and a day’s journey from any semblance of urban sprawl. We are here to find sunshine, to bask in it, to swim in it, to feast in shorts, tee-shirt and no shoes. Aahhh…that’s what I am talking about.

The cell phones have good reception out here, strange but a good thing since it has now been 3 weeks since have seen our grandchild or our grown kids.

{the phone chirps just before dinner…. It is a Facetime call from our daughter….}

“Evalyn (our granddaughter) look, there is Grandma!” says our lovely daughter who called to give us news it is snowing gangbusters at home. “Say hi to Grandma”.

“Hi Gamma”, says our 22-month old. “Bapa, where’s Bapa?” she asks.

“He’s cooking dinner outside on the grill”, my wife informs her.

“Where’s Cleo”, she asks about our dog.

“Right here, How are you? Did it snow today?”, my wife asks her.

“Snowing outside. Go play. Dada outside”. …and off scampers our Granddaughter to the window to look outside. Technology is great for shortening the distances between loved ones. We shared our what we have been doing, the 75 degree days, people we have met. Our daughter says it is snowing and cold and they all had to stay home from work because of it. I am listening and thinking….sorry they couldn’t be with us.

“Mom, are you bored yet?” asks our concerned daughter. She knows my wife well. I wait the response….

Two weeks may be a bit much but one week of this glorious warmth wasn’t enough. Maybe its just the place. Maybe next year we go to Maui for 2 weeks instead.

Next I will tell you about the yard art…no, really, desert yard art…