Dr. Luckie--"Father of 29 Palms"

(September, 2009, 29 Palms)

Dr. James Luckie is depicted in a 29 Palms mural. After World War I he practiced medicine in Pasadena and treated veterans injured by mustard gas poisoning. Dr, Luckie advised his patients to file homestead claims in the high desert community where the altitude and climate might heal their injured lungs. Many recovered there and stayed to raise families.

A former medical officer, Dr. Luckie would not accept payment for his services and was deeded forty acres of land by grateful resident Bill Campbell. Dr. Luckie deeded the land over to the local legion post. Today "Luckie Park" sits on the site as a tribute to this generous man.

Joshua Tree National Park ranger Laureen Lentz

(Joshua Tree National Park Visitors Center, September, 2009)

Our friend Laureen Lentz is one of the Park's amazing natural resources! A 20 year Park employee, she fills the role of Volunteer Coordinator as well as Lead Park Guide. Laureen always has a smile on her face and shares interesting information and great stories, which makes our visits to Joshua Tree National Park sing!

desert love

(Joshua Tree National Park, November, 2000)

A few weekends ago I went on a walk around my mother-in-law's neighborhood in 29 Palms. Why I love the desert hit me once again. I notice things here... a feather blowing across the road, an anthill rising from a crack in the pavement, the breeze on my face, the call of morning doves.

The world around me amplifies and fills me with the sights and sounds of nature... or the absence of noise and perfect calm. The stillness of the desert quiets my restless mind.

Keys View--Joshua Tree National Park

(Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park--September, 2009)

While our family was visiting my mother-in-law Helen in 29 Palms last weekend, William and I went out to Joshua Tree National Park. I was recovering from a sprained ankle and did more hobbling than hiking, and shot a lot of photos.

The park was unusually hot--around 100 degrees-no escaping the heat wave in the city, with a blue, windless sky, and empty! You could drive for miles and not see a car. We drove up to Keys View, the highest point, with an awesome view of the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs (a fire was burning somewhere around there), Mount San Jacinto behind it, to the Salton Sea, Signal Mountain and Mexico south of that.

Not many people up there either except for a German couple taking photos of a friendly antelope ground squirrel (awwww... I took a few, too).

A beautiful weekend!