Joshua Tree

My friend Krista and I have been talking about going to Joshua Tree National Park for over a year. You know, how people talk. When I lived in Michigan my friends and I always talked about going to the drive-in to watch movies. We went just once in all of my years and after the two hour drive to the drive-in, waiting for sunset for the movies to start, sleeping through both movies, then driving back, I vowed that was a dumb idea. Then in Arizona we always talked with friends about going camping. One winter there was even discussion of sleeping bags. We had them and were ready to go. But nothing ever came together. (And for the record - I was okay with that. Really. I like being tucked into a bed at night.)

So when Krista brought up Joshua Tree last year as we sat waiting for a play to begin downtown, I was intrigued but kinda thought, well, that'll never happen. Not that Krista's a flake (total opposite in fact, she was the one who invited me to the play and secured the tickets, the meeting spot, the coffee after, etc.). Just that, well, I find that humans often talk about doing things but aren't so good at the follow through (myself included at times).

Fast forward to a few months ago. I got an email from Krista and she said she really wanted to go to Joshua Tree and were Angela and I interested? Of course, I replied back instantly and that began a series of emails and planning and voila! This Saturday, IT HAPPENED.

We ended up adding a friend of Krista's to our little group, West, an actor in L.A. who just wanted to get out of the city. We met at Krista's parents' house where her dad made sure the trucks was fully stocked and we were prepared. He even threw an extra bag of Ruffles potato chips in at the last minute. (And guess what the first item used on the road trip was? The Ruffles!) And off we went...

We drove east for about an hour, talking, laughing, listening to the cassette tape mix in Krista's dad's truck. Krista, Angela and I have a very easy-breezy time together always, we talk and talk for hours. West fit in perfectly and became one of our gang. Then we stopped for date shakes. Well, they did. Even after three years in Yuma, aka Date Country, Ang and I are still fine with passing on anything date related. But we did eat sandwiches at this little country store.

A Joshua Tree at Joshua Tree National Park

We headed into Joshua Tree National Park around 4. We slathered on the sunscreen, double-checked our water supply, poured over the maps (not sure if any of us really understood them), and drove away from the last flush toilets for miles and miles (the Park Ranger was pretty intent on telling us about the toilets and later that night, I realized why).

We stopped first at a lookout point and headed into the desert on foot. My goal? Never lose sight of our truck. I figured if I could see it, I could get back to it. We also all agreed that if we saw a wild animal that might be a threat we only had to outrun the other three in the group. Yes, we're that good of friends.

The sunset above our campsite

We climbed rocks, got snagged by cacti, saw some lizards, watched rock climbers with harnesses and pulleys who went more than two feet off the ground (but hey! we were adventurous too!) and then headed back to the truck. We stopped a few more times to explore (one time we performed a random act of good karma - we pulled a mean note off someone's car that someone had left regarding that person's parking skills and then one time we negated said karma when West took a watch that someone had left on a sign post, though we decided the watch would somehow save our lives and make a really good plot point in the movie of our adventure) and then found a campsite.

Here's what still amazes me about that afternoon/evening we spend together. It was as if we'd been together for years. It was as if we'd been friends since the beginning of time and yet, still interested in finding out about one another. We played cards, teaching each other new games, already calling back to inside jokes from just hours earlier, laughing and telling stories. I learned about other cultures (Asian mostly, acting a little) and ate sushi on a camping trip. How cool is that?

As the sun set, we made a fire, welcome our sites resident kangaroo rat who was really bummed when we moved the graham crackers out of his way, and at burned marshmallows. We used an iPad app to find constellations and then we sat in the silence, telling quiet stories, just staring at the fire and the night. And when the fire died down, without much discussion, we packed up and headed back to the city. We talked about the coyote who'd crossed our path (while we were in the truck thankfully). The jackrabbits who skittered in front of us as we drove away. The bats that flew down at dusk. The lizards and the birds and the crazy campers all around us.

I love this picture even though it's all blurry - you can see West, Angela and Krista all laughing and that's what I'm going to remember from that night!

We got home to Abbey Place sixteen hours after we'd left. I fell asleep thinking of the stars and the little kangaroo rat who wanted to join our party. I smelled like fire and my feet were dusty and I was still slick with sunscreen. But I was quiet and happy and in love with the idea that it is possible to have new adventures and meet new people and make new friends and have an amazing time. No matter if you're in the city, the desert or somewhere in between.

I cannot wait to go to Joshua Tree again. But more than that? I cannot wait for my next adventure, whatever that might be.