Runnin' The Border

You wake from your slumber and step outside to the morning city air. A couple clouds block the sun in its morning rise. Aside from the couple clouds the sky is blue and pink. Some people with their dogs jog by on the sidewalk. They all probably do this every morning. It is a routine for some. It is like a rut in the road. It is hard to break free of it. The dogs stay obediently at the sides of their masters. Most don't pay attention to the things they pass whether it be a red fire hydrant or another human. They seem content and are gone as they follow their masters around a corner.

 A lion roars in the distance. And then a peacock yells in response. Something moves in the corner of your eye. Your attention is attracted to two squirrels running up a tree. They wind around the big trunk, one in pursuit of the other. They make it up to the branches and disappear from sight amidst the green leaves. They may have disappeared, but you can still hear them. Some leaves fall to the ground as they race around they maze of branches. They come straight down the trunk of the tree and take off like little speeding bullets, across the groomed park lawn.

As you leave you watch the park and zoo move past your windows. Volunteers and staff members go in through their gates following the beaten path they have worn. As you drive down the city streets you see more people headed to their morning destinations. It is like a bunch of ants going to work.

You get out of town and take the freeway east. The freeway is just north of the international border. On the other side of the fence is Mexico. You pass through barren land where even a wild burro would starve and/or thirst to death. There aren't many cactuses. You climb into some canyons. Both sides of the canyons are covered in giant rocks and boulders.

You slowly make your way across the state to Arizona. When you cross the border the scenery doesn't change but the temperature keeps rising. You pass an ostrich farm on your right. You have been there before when you were young. They sell big ostrich eggs. You can feed the ostriches, but you have to be careful or it will hurt. You can also feed deer and mini donkeys.

You near Tuscon and stare out the window as the city flies by. Tuscon is similar to Phoenix and other desert cities. But Tuscon's buildings are much better quality and the area is obviously richer than the average joe. After you leave Tuscon, out in the middle of the desert you spot something very unexpected. Off to your right is an airplane boneyard. It isn't actually filled with planes that will never be used again. It is filled with planes that are new and old that will be used again. They are kept in this desert because they can't rust out here and will be preserved.

It is dark when you cross over the border into New Mexico. The land is swallowed in the dry, hot darkness of the night. The moon floats by in the sky. Its yellow light dimly illuminates the land around you. About an hour or so later, you can see the lights of Deming. You are tired and feel like you could fall asleep standing up. As soon as you get in bed, you are asleep.