Dining al fresco in the Desert...

This past weekend in the desert was perfect. Springtime in Palm Springs is especially nice; while it gets quite warm during the day (90 degrees or so), by nightfall it cools down to a very pleasant 70 degrees.

On Saturday night we joined a few friends and caught up life's goings-on over a few cocktails. A refreshing gin and tonic always hits the spot for me! After being away from home for nearly the past month, it was good to be back in Palm Springs with friends for an intimate meal. We dined al fresco, in the garden with the tranquil sound of the fountain trickling behind us. It was a little slice of heaven! As dusk settled in, we saw several bats darting about overhead, momentarily providing entertainment as we watched them weave and bob in their erratic manner.

As I get older, I realize how important it is to seize these moments and enjoy them. Why is it that we so easily get caught up in the hectic pace of life, always focused on something in the future ("when I retire, when I go on vacation, or when things calm down"). What I have learned so far is that things never calm down. Minutes, hours, days, weeks and months fly by without warning. The passage of time is inevitable, like an unstoppable train barreling down the tracks of the time-space continuum. One of life's secrets is about balance; being in tune with one's ever-changing needs and realities. Recognizing the opportunity to stop for a moment, however brief it may be and enjoy a meal with friends can make all the difference.
-Rick Rockhill