California
Dreaming
The last trip that Julia and I made in 2023 was to travel down
south, back to our home of 30 years, California. Our new Portland friends Jon
and Gordon (Indy) invited us to stay with them in Palm Springs. On our way, we
stopped by San Francisco to see some old friends. We had a blast catching up
with them. The sun was shining in San Francisco, unlike the rain that was
pouring in Portland. A massive atmospheric river was flooding our home at that
time. But it wasn’t just the sun in the blue California sky making us feel
good, it was also spending time with folks we knew so well. Thanks to everyone
that took the time to reconnect with Julia and me.
Alas, our stay in San Francisco was cut short as I picked up a cold
somewhere, during our drive down south. The symptoms got bad and then Julia
came down with the same bug. At that point rather than spreading the thing to our
friends we decided to return home. We were really bummed not to have spent more
time with our friends in San Francisco and not making it to Palm Springs was
extremely disappointing.
We spent the next three weeks at home getting over this nasty bug.
We tested for COVID several times and the results were always negative. This
just goes to show that it’s not just COVID that can disable you. Anyway, we
both did recover and decided to complete our trip to Palm Springs when we were
feeling better.
Palm Springs is a city of contrasts, where the ancient and the
modern coexist in harmony. It is a place where the past and the present are
intertwined, where the natural and the artificial are blended, and where the
desert and the mountains are juxtaposed.
The history of Palm Springs goes back to the time when the Cahuilla
people, the original inhabitants of the area, settled in the oasis that they
called Se-Khi, meaning boiling water. They lived in harmony with the land,
using the abundant springs, palm trees, and plants for their food, shelter, and
medicine. They spoke Ivilyuat, a language that belongs to the Uto-Aztecan
family, and developed a rich culture and tradition that still survives today.
The first major change in Palm Springs came in 1884, when Judge John
Guthrie McCallum and his family moved from San Francisco, seeking a better
climate for his son's tuberculosis. They bought land from the Southern Pacific
Railroad and built a home and a canal system to irrigate the desert. They also
planted crops and orchards and introduced new species of plants and animals to
the area.
The second major change in Palm Springs came in the early 20th
century, when the city became a popular destination for Hollywood celebrities,
who were attracted by its sunny weather, scenic beauty, and privacy. They built
lavish homes, hotels, and resorts, and brought glamour and fame to the city.
They also contributed to the cultural and artistic development of Palm Springs,
supporting local artists, writers, and musicians. Some of the famous stars who
frequented Palm Springs include Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley,
Lucille Ball, and Bob Hope.
The third major change in Palm Springs came in the late 20th
century, when the city became a hub for architecture, design, and art. Palm
Springs is known for its distinctive style of mid-century modern architecture,
which features clean lines, geometric shapes, and bold colors. The city also
hosts various festivals and events, such as the Palm Springs International Film
Festival, the Modernism Week, and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,
that showcase its cultural diversity and creativity.
The geology of Palm Springs is also fascinating, as it reveals the
dynamic forces that shaped the landscape over millions of years. Palm Springs is
in the Coachella Valley, a rift valley that was formed by the movement of the
San Andreas Fault. The valley is part of the Colorado Desert, a subdivision of
the Sonoran Desert, which is characterized by low rainfall, high temperatures,
and sparse vegetation.
The San Jacinto Mountains, which rise to the west of Palm Springs,
are part of the Peninsular Ranges, a chain of mountains that extends from
Southern California to Baja California. The mountains are composed of granitic
rocks that were formed by the intrusion of magma into the crust. The mountains
also have a rich biodiversity, with various ecosystems ranging from desert to
alpine.
The Palm Spring Formation, which is exposed in the eastern part of
the valley, is a geologic formation that dates to the Pleistocene Epoch, about
2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. The formation is a delta-plain deposit that
was created by the ancestral Colorado River, which flowed into the Salton
Trough, a large basin that was periodically filled and drained by water. The
formation contains fossils of plants and animals that lived in the ancient
river and lake environments.
Palm Springs is a city that has a lot to offer, from its history and
culture to its geology and nature. It is a city that invites exploration,
discovery, and appreciation. It is a city that has a story to tell, and a story
to be told. And it is a place where Julia and I were able to spend time with
new friends.
Happy Winter/Summer solstice to you and yours. May we all be new
friends again in the New Year. And may the orange orangutan go to prison in
2024.