We were in the desert near Palm Springs and it was hot and dry--I noticed the way the water collected in pools around the cholla cactus from the sprinklers... and the doves and hummingbirds in the bright blue air. This was my second Vipassana retreat in the desert with the other Dedicated Practitioners, and I had brought my paints and some watercolors in case I had time for artistic endeavors. I was thinking about the desert light, expanse of blue sky, rolling quiet that stretched out to the stars and the wind coming across vast spaces and stirring the leaves of the creosote bush and the spiky Joshua trees. This story is about junk and how I needed a piece of it. Well, that's because my watercolor paper was loose and I needed to clamp it to a back support for painting. I headed out to the desert dump which I had seen on my previous retreat. This wasn't the first dump I'd explored and most likely it won't be my last. Detritus, the back end of lives, where we put the stuff we think we don't want...what's all used up. A good place to look and I knew it. Well, sure enough there were dead parts of Joshua trees, old discarded tires, lots of unidentifiable plastic and old desiccated plywood. I spotted what I needed to back my small sheet of watercolor paper, dusted it off, tucked it into my backpack and being satisfied, looked out over the desert.
It was then I spotted a Joshua tree casting shade. Since I'd picked my way across the junk and the sand and spiky places, I decided I needed to sit for a spell. I grabbed a discarded plastic cafeteria serving tray in great shape and just the right size. I sat down on it, leaned against the trunk in the dry air and took out my pad and pen. I'd already frightened some quail from their refuge beneath the large bushes below the water tank and if anything else showed up, I wanted to be ready.
Down below me and off to the right I saw something move into the shadows beneath a small bush. Larger than a rabbit, bigger than a quail--I could be lucky--it might be headed my way. It traveled across an open space like so many places in deserts and the long tail gave it away. I sat very still and just waited. Up the little draw...I couldn't see it, but I figured it was there...then it turned and headed directly my way. It was the courage and determination that surprised me as it approached. Road Runners have a certain reputation and this one was no exception. It strode right up to me beneath that Joshua tree near the dump, cocked its head and raised its crest. I checked out the long legs and intelligent eye. It circled around me...sized me up from all angles just a foot or two away. I couldn't see its departure because I don't have a head that turns 360 degrees, but I figured that was just about as good as a moment gets, so I took my junk and left that place headed for the dining hall and my dharma buddies.
