The Darkest Sky

                            

You can learn a lot about a new state by driving outside of the big city. In my case, the city is Las Vegas. What does the rest of the state actually look like? Imagine an infinite sandbox covered with rocks and scrub grass. At first, it appears to be totally brown, but then you notice the different shades of brown on the terrain. It appears to be empty until you see a deer or a rabbit cross your path and get all excited. Now and then you can even see a river or lake. The water adds green grass to the terrain and it looks like a magnificent carpet in the middle of nowhere. 

The magic continues with the forests of ancient Joshua Trees. Did you know that some of them are over 1000 years old? Their twisted branches reach out like arms to the sky above. Sturdy tree trunks support the clouds as they group together in the middle of nowhere. The trees are timeless and have seen pony express riders, cowboys, and Native Americans cross their paths. Trees only grow 20 feet in 60 years. Their average lifespan is 500 years. Recent studies show Joshua trees are dying due to hotter, drier conditions, and fewer younger trees are growing. Joshua trees could survive in higher areas, but they are disappearing due to dry conditions and higher temperatures that are fire risks. I have seen many Joshua trees that are half burnt and their black branches look bleak in the sunlight. These ancient trees hold secrets of the past and need to be protected.

Recently, we drove to the Great Basin National Park which has the darkest sky in Nevada. The night sky lights up with thousands of stars, amazing meteors, and planets. It was very magical and oh so quiet. It was also chilly for a Spring night with only a few other people around. It was silent as we took hundreds of photos. None of them turned out very well. It was impossible to capture the artistic tapestry of the night sky with a camera lens. We can return in the summer to explore the magical caves when they reopen. The state is slowly returning to a new normal. 

On the trip, we celebrated our anniversary dinner at the only place open in town. It was a roadside truck stand with one picnic table. The lone cook made a tasty burger in the middle of nowhere in the darkest place in the state. We watched a family play with their two small children while they waited for their burgers. I ran next door to the only bar and bought a cheap bottle of red wine. We toasted our 45 years of marriage from plastic cups at a roadside table. Who thinks we’re not romantic?

The next morning, we stopped at a small diner on the way home for breakfast. It was a one-street town with buildings over 100 years old. There was an old-fashioned movie theater, ice cream shop, and saloon. There were a few souvenir stores, but the only place open on a Sunday morning was a Cafe. The coffee wasn’t the best, but the atmosphere made up for it. The locals looked like movie extras and the eggs were eggs. Nothing fancy in this town. I wonder what the children who live here do for entertainment. It was like stepping back in time to the wild, wild west. On the way out of town, we passed a large Courthouse that must have seen many trials. Do people still steal horses, get rowdy, and have gunfights in the streets like long ago? It seems too sleepy of a town now to even need a Courthouse. 

So this story ends like all books with a deep message. Travel while you can, learn from others, and find something to do each day that brings you joy. We look at the stars that millions of people have gazed at before us. We all have moments of happiness and sorrow. Take the time to talk today with someone who needs a listener and a hug. You will be the shining star in their universe.