Anything that lives where it would seem that nothing could live, enduring extremes of heat and cold, sunlight and storm, parching aridity and sudden cloudbursts, among burnt rocks and shifting sands, any such creature, beast, bird, or flower, testifies to the grandeur and heroism inherent in all forms of life. Including the human. Even in us.
[Edward Abbey]
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I find the desert beautiful. It can be dismal, boiling, stinging, biting, terrifying and blinding. It can also be lush, gentle, sweet, fragrant and otherworldly. I would know, I lived in the low desert of Arizona for almost four full years and grew acquainted with the nature of the land there to a great degree. I love it and I hate it.
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White Sands is spectacular, a literal sea of white on this windy day wherein the sky meets the earth in a tempered blaze. My eyes hurt to look out at it. It’s like being in a 105F degree snowstorm. At the end of the day I will have tiny signs of snow blindness, M, too, will actually lay on her hotel bed with a wet facecloth across her eyes. Where is this place? Where have we come? What is it? Snow or sand, sun or ice? The very light of the place confuses the senses.
The sand is deep, mystical, pure white. By the time I climb in the car for departure, the fineness of the stuff is clinging to every inch of my skin. It’s in my underwear, my armpits, my eyelids. I’m pregnant with it, carrying a million minute grains, mother to a miniature desert creeping across my skin in moon shaped dunes.
Oh God! What is this place? Creation is too great to fathom at times. I want to blend in, creep across the shifting particles in jerky steps, like the purple lizard I watched take shade beneath the yucca. Was it really purple? I cannot tell the colors here for all the holy light.
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I begin to think about survival. I begin to think about the hero in myself, not just here in the desert, but in life. That small portion of my being that is capable of arriving in the nick of time, broad of heart, self-sacrificing in times of need, jovial, caring, important…where is the hero in me and how do I tend to it?
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Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration, for the life you deserved but never have been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.
[Ayn Rand:: Atlas Shrugged]
I feel brighter for sitting here, drinking in your words and scenes gazed… So unearthly (and yet so earthly), holy and vast and consuming. Thanks always friend xx
My pleasure, friend. X
Wow! It almost looks like salt.
Yup. It was white as snow.
M and I kept yelling at each other (over the howling wind) that it looked like we were in Antarctica!
Oh lady, the sun, your strength, your long tanned limbs! Loving your adventures, hey x
Love to have you here, babe. X
Holy Smokes! Literally!
HA HA!!!
This so clearly articulates how I felt as a child while living in the Mojave Desert. I could never get over the sheer light of the place–the brightness and expanse of it was overwhelming. But also beautiful!
I know. Whenever I go back to AZ to visit with friends I’m always screeching about how hard the sun is on my eyes. I don’t dare go outside without sunglasses and a hat or my eyes feel like they are burning out of my head.
Absolutely LOVE your photos from White Sands. I always meant to go there, while I lived in NM. So magical. And the photo of you in the beads and bandana: It’s my all time favourite of you – it’s perfectly you. The necklace is fabulous also 🙂
I’m feeling the pull for that road trip to NM all over again ; that I want to do so badly this year!
xx
Make it happen, friend! Make it happen!!!
I too have a love hate relationship with the desert…I love the beauty that does not allow approach….love your quotes (among other things) xx
Ah…you said it so perfectly, Mona. X
What an incredible juxtaposition in landscape to your other recent trips! So beautiful in a stark, haunting way.
Isn’t our world such an astounding place?
Absolutely brilliant, in every way.
Thanks, darlin’!
Oh Mama, you had me at the first image, riveted by color and beauty…Then I read on, and by the time I read that last word of that quote by Ayn Rand, I was in tears. She seems to have strung together a perfectly amazing set of words…I’ll be reading them over and over again. Thank you for sharing.
Have you read any of Ayn Rand’s books?
Politics aside…they are pretty inspiring. She really shuns mediocrity. Give her a try!
XX
I’m loving the colors, the brilliance, the intensity of it all!! And, you are rockin’ the head gear in all of your photos lady!! Gloriously colorful headscarf, necklaces and skirt- so, now I’m craving color too. 🙂 I’m enjoying your adventures, aka #livingvicariously!
Headgear! Tis the season!
We were driving in a convertible and had the top down as much as possible during this trip so I always had on a scarf or hat…or both. 🙂 However, I DO love hats.
you have certainly pointed out that there is beauty all around us [and IN us]….all we have to do is check around and within….and there it is….
love you.
Smoochiesmoochie!
Is that a bus shelter that you’re hangin’ from? hee Yes, such different pictures from what you normally capture, but beautiful nonetheless. I love the colors of your skirt, ring and scarf against the white sand. It made me smile, without sandy grit in my teeth!
A picnic shelter!!! There’s a table inside of it.
You are absolutely amazing! I’ve found you in somerset artful blogging and so,reset life. You have inspired me to finally take the plunge and put myself out there as an artist, thank you so much! If you have any tips on starting out as an artist would be very awesome!
Michele,
Thanks for finding me! It’s my pleasure to inspire and uplift.
Do I have any tips on how to start out as an artist? Well, I didn’t actually set out to do what I am doing with my life, I mean I DID set out to write, photograph and make…but I wasn’t obsessed with success. I’m still not obsessed with success and frankly, I’m a little uncomfortable with the idea of fame.
In the beginning, I set out to make things, express myself, develop my metalsmithing, photography and writing skills and somewhere along the way I wound up where I am today.
Work really, really hard. Love what you do. Love what you do more than you love success.
The work is about developing your skills and being honest. It’s not about how many people read your blog or buy your work. That’s all just byproduct.
If I was completely unknown, I would still photograph, write and make jewelry because I love doing those three things…
Good luck!
X
(PS: Where are Farley and Penelope these days?)
Elizabeth, I’ve been missing those two, too– I asked on her last post where they were, and they stayed in Idaho during this traveling stint! Penelope is, shhhhhhh, my favorite!
Karen – so glad they are well! Thanks!
EVERYONE loves a teenie weenie… 🙂
Thanks for all your lovely thoughts and comments on this post! Love having you here. X
Ugh! These photos are spectacular! I love love love White Sands and New Mexico, these photos just makes my heart sing and long for this place.