The Icing

Living in Arizona for so long, my affection for cacti grew. Although I found the desert a little ugly when I first arrived, by the time I left, I couldn't get enough of such plants as the cholla with its striking orange flowers during the spring and the saguaro in which woodpeckers would drill holes that would become wooden boot-like nests. I frequently hiked at South Mountain, content to move through a landscape that was familiar and comforting, however prickly it might be. Occasionally, coyote and lizards would cross my path. But more frequently, the cacti, red rocks and panoramic view from the summit provided all the variety I needed. My favorite time to return to Arizona is in the spring when I can hike to my heart's content.

While I was in New York recently, I stayed with my friend Tom who was my roommate in 1997-8, the last year I lived in Phoenix. Like me, he enjoyed hiking and the cacti. He returns periodically to enjoy the Arizona sun, landscape, and people. Tom's living room in New York includes many succulents, demonstrating his connection to Arizona, but one corner in particular embodies several elements of Tom-ness. It includes a cactus with succulents at its base, a flowering potted plant, and the modern lamp that he bought in Arizona.