Tuning Out

Summer kicks off in the High Desert... see you soon.

We had a family wedding in the High Desert this past weekend. As such I haven’t had a lot of time at the desk.

It was a pretty large affair, for the middle of nowhere, and people came from all over the world to have a good time. We dressed up, even the kids - especially the kids - put on cowboy hats and before you knew it our boots were all the same shade of dust.

The couple wed around sunset. I broke out the guitar, my friend the accordion, to send some Dylan tunes into the rocks before and after the vows. It was a good feeling.

The sun’s so strong out there that the sky stays alight long after it’s gone down, and it wasn’t until the first dance that it felt truly dark. Over the dance floor, stars competed with mirror balls and everybody fell into the cosmic disco spell of it all.

Our daughter said “Cheers!” and raised her wineglass of apple cider more times than I could count, until her arm could take it no more and the bed finally called.

Our son worked the bar with big smiles and a frozen hand, from diving into the ice bucket for beers again and again, and again. He was determined to stay up through the speeches, raised a hand in triumph each time his name was mentioned, then blinked slower and slower into one big blink and fell onto his mother’s lap.

Eventually my wife and I stumbled back to our house through the dust and dark, music still thrumming behind us, and I don’t recall my head hitting the pillow.

All that is to say, I’m still recovering. Summer is officially upon us here. With the change in season comes a shift in the home routine, as palpable as the warmer air. It may be a couple of weeks before you hear from me again.

Until then, like a late night in the desert, I hope you enjoy the peace and quiet.