Legend of the Saguaro

As a Midwesterner temporarily planted in the incredible Sonoran desert of Arizona patiently waiting for Iowa to thaw and the sun to return, I'm in no hurry, biding my time among the cactus, the mountains, sunshine, roadrunners and javelinas until it's safe to go back to home sweet Iowa home. This amazing wilderness is the only place in the entire world where the magnificent Saguaro cactus grow, over two million strewn throughout its very own Saguaro National Park and probably that many more in the lush captivating landscape surrounding our campsite.  These native celebrities soar over sixty feet into the desert sky, aging gracefully well over a century, older than Jim Beam, the state of Alaska, Mickey Mouse and a few years older than me too. Perpetually poised, maintaining their alluring beauty in spite of the unrelenting climate of a brutal desert, a timeworn cactus has taught me about life, resilience, dignity and survival without uttering a single word.

Native Tohono O'Odham tribes here in Arizona teach their children the earth is sacred, all humans have a moral obligation to care for every animal, every plant, every stream, everything that touches the land is our responsibility to nurture, to defend.  Growing up in rich Iowa corn country I relate to an absolute respect for the land, I understand the spiritual connection native Americans share with the planet, O’Odham children absorb the wisdom of forefathers who believe their ancestors return from the afterlife as dust, mingle with rain, soil, rocks, the air, reincarnate themselves, resurrected back to the universe as powerful, majestic Saguaro cactus for generations to come.  

Thoughts wander as the path winds, narrows, twists, vanishes then curiously emerges camouflaged under thorny brambles, over slick rock slabs, huge boulders challenge the sanity of a nearly lost soul. Carefully sidestepping steamy fresh horse manure on the trail to avoid smelling like the horse’s behind for the remainder of the trek, despite extreme caution still relegated to the rear of this party of two.  Step upon step over stones, along ridges, through ancient ruins, soaring cliffs scrambling up washes, the steady beat of boots on gravel, dancing stones, a scurrying gecko, in these moments, hour after hour of quiet solitude under a scorching, unrelenting sun, in the desert wilderness, each step brings clarity, solitude, calm.  I remember.  

A friend laid her head down for the last time,  gone in an instant.  I couldn't quite grasp the finality of her passing, a feisty but gentle soul, lived her life at full throttle sharing the road and plenty of love and laughs among the masses on a whirlwind tour. She was an acquaintance years ago, a wife, mother, sister, teacher, and along with about half the population of Iowa, a friend.  We shared a connection as mothers of sons, directors of chaos, amiable servants/chauffeurs, baseball to basketball to golf then home to laundry, dinner, homework, repeat for about twenty years. Retirement rewards us with plenty of time to chat, commiserate geriatric miseries and reconnect which is exactly what we did a few years ago, sharing proud Grandma moments, crazy tales about absolutely nothing then laughing hysterically, never quite sure what set us off.  Her peaceful passing was a beautiful sendoff to a joyous purposeful life, not so much for those still trying to live and breathe here on earth. 

On this day, in the desert among the Saguaro, protectors of the desert, hiking among these magical centurions is otherworldly, towering giants each flaunting a personality suited to their unique rugged structure, nobel arms reaching, twisted, greeting, holding, caring, forever silent and relentless guardians of the universe.  Surrounded by this ancient community, I carried my friend close in my heart, together we witnessed thousands of Saguaro, each watching over us, old souls, gnarled, weathered, realizing finally from those stately masters that my friend may be earthly gone but her spirit will soar with the Saguaro, the earth, the stars and the sky above, she will be always by my side, protecting me, the universe and her loved ones forever.