Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Roller Coaster Ride


I am on a roller coaster ride (not a nice one, either). My mom is home, and gaining strength one day, then she is back at the hospital room with severe abdominal pain the next. I would like to get off this ride for a while. I would like to sit in the sun, eat cotton candy, and not have a care in the world. Tell me, is this what it means to grow up? Because if it is, I don't want to grow up. I'm with Sia, who sings, "I don't wanna grow up, bring me all the toys you can find..." Maybe that's why I am so into her songs right now.

I have been attempting to distract myself with the absolute beauty of the desert. Right now, it is the most magnificent place I have ever seen. There are flowers everywhere, and they are unlike other flowers, anywhere else. (At least the ones I have seen, and I have been a lot of places!) I love that. We have the desert dandelion, pale yellow flowers that grow so thickly it looks like carpet. We have the Desert Globemallow. I don't think I have a photo of that one yet, but it is a fairly tall bush, covered with orange flowers on tall spikes. We also have the Bladder Sage, which is just AMAZING - with these purple buds that turn into balloons (bladders, not an especially appealing word, by any means!). Wow. It does help. I am grateful for flowers, today.


There is also the vibrant pink of the hedgehog cactus. Oh, and did I mention the close encounter of the lizard kind? I met this little guy on a rock. He was the first lizard I've met in the desert that wanted a little fame on my blog. The others were much more shy. I think it looks like he's growing a new tail. (okay, I don't actually know "he" is a he, because I didn't get that close! It just SEEMED like a "he lizard", somehow.)

6 comments:

High Desert Diva said...

Desert flowers...what a beautiful distraction you've found for yourself. I spent a lot of time on the internet, Etsy forums, blogging...anything to keep my mind off the rollercoaster of in and out of the hospital. I know it's hard.

Saw my first little lizard the other day, too. Actually I saw three! But no flowers like you have!

lee said...

What great looking flowers, you gotta have nice weather for those. We are getting snow on Sunday....painting something anything or any kind of art might get your mind off that rollercoaster ride. I know when my mom was in the hospital my mind was racing a hundred miles an hour, and thinking things that would never happen but sometimes your mind just wont quit when you want it to. Keep the faith things will get better. Who looked after Pono when you were away, or was your hubby home.

Anke Martin said...

Hi Karine! Oh those rollercoaster rides concerning feelings....no fun. Hope your mother is getting better soon. 'Growing up is no fun' especially if stuff like that happens.....I feel with you.
Now to your fotos. They are wonderful! Wow what amazing colors the desert offers.......never really thought that there would be so many beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing!
We are still waiting for spring....have April weather right now, which means, rain, snow, sun, storm all together in one day and the temperatures are up and down......don't like that winter wind anymore but seems like we have it for a little while longer. Bummer. Last year we got spoiled with warm April weather......so I hang in there and wait for the real spring! At least the landscape is getting greener again, can't stand the browns anymore.
Smiles, cheer ups and greetings your way, Anke ;)

Ms Dragonfly said...

the flowers are beautiful!

Linda O'Neill said...

Sweet Karine...hang in there, the roller coaster will slow down after awhile. I've felt much the same this past year so you're not alone. Sometimes life just throws it at ya!

Maisie and I are thinking about you and send lots of Colorado love your way.:)

coloredsock said...

oh those desert blooms bring back a lot of memories of living in the albuquerque hills. i didn't like abq so much, but i LOVED my walks thru the cactus flowers and wild desert blooms. mmmm.

i'm sorry to hear about the ups and downs with your mom. sending good vibes your way! xo