My Desert Rose

Shortly after 9/11 I was sent to Egypt for a military training exercise but at that point anything was possible, Egypt is definitely a lot closer to the hot spot of the world than Camp Pendleton. While there I would spend majority of my 12 hour guard shift by myself thinking about everything and everyone. I would imagine scenarios of me back home shooting the shit on the block, rocking out on stage with a guitar, anything to keep me from sleeping since I was on the graveyard shift (I preferred it, it wasn't as hot).  

Towards the end of my shift I would have the pleasure of seeing the sunrise in Egypt, and I have to tell you I have yet to see a sunrise that matches theirs!   The land of Moses, the Nile and countless years of ancient history. Every morning I would hear the call to prayer (Fajr) and then shortly thereafter the most exquisite sunrise I had ever seen.  It was a moment where I would not know whether the sun was going up or going down, sort of like purgatory.  I am not a religious person, but those were the moments I felt most at peace with myself and the world.  Odd how I was in a place a hopscotch away from one of the most conflict ridden areas in the world and yet I felt peace like I have never felt or felt since.   (pic below, not mine although I wish I had taken one)

After getting to my hootch, thats what Marines call sleeping quarters, I would pop in my Enya disc and would play the song below, since I was in Africa why not continually hear "Storms of Africa'.


One song I wish I had during my trip to Egypt was Desert Rose by Sting, I think it would have been perfect, since I do consider Egypt my Desert Rose.

The home I've only visited....

How do you visit a place and all of a sudden feel like the puzzle has been put together and is now complete?    Leaving home knowing it wasn't really your home only to find it later on in life on a whim holiday trip?     Can anyone answer me?  After X amount of years living in suburbia Orange County, I can definitely say, this is NOT the place.

During one of my walks around the Upper West Side, I was listening to Talking Heads song This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)  and it all connected and made sense and my gut for once in my life spoke to me and repeated the words, "This Must Be The Place"

I think Frank Sinatra said it best, "I want to be a part of it New York, New York"

I don't wear flip flops, I don't go to the beach.  I enjoy museums, opera, food, and most importantly diversity!!   I enjoy hearing Russian on my left, Spanish on my right, Mandarin in front of me and some language I have no clue where it's from behind me.  
I like the fact that reading isn't some weird thing, it's a thing that New Yorkers do, Whether its on the subway or on a sunny day in Central Park.

I know to some people Orange County is paradise, good for them!!!  I am glad they found their piece of paradise. Me on the other hand know it's in the concrete jungle.  It's just going to take a lil while to get there.
Finish school, move, and enjoy life.    Till then, I'll just watch as many New York movies as possible.