Dreams, Moments, Travels
The desperation to find a photo of the day is on occasion a task that bears little satisfaction. If you were to assume that these photos where I simply point to leaves overhead were a sad attempt to photograph something, anything, you would be correct. I have been busy and maybe too narrow in my focus over the last few days as I go over and prepare photos from our trip to Hawaii for something special Caroline and I have in the works.
Went to Ameeta’s and Nakita’s 4th birthday this evening at the invite of Satish and Mala. The photo of the day is from when five ladies offered a prayer in recognition of the girls’ birthday.
Went to local deli Chompies for the last time – sadly. I ‘celebrated’ the moment with a last bowl of matzo ball noodle soup, the best in Arizona. Matter of fact, this is one awesome deli; I’ve been frequenting it for twenty-five years. What stopped me in my tracks was their most recent price increase. A pastrami sandwich and coleslaw went from $9.95 to $11.95, but that’s not all, the fries that used to come with that combo have been stripped from the order and now will cost an additional $2.95. The lunch I used to buy for $9.95 is now $14.90 – a 50% increase. I asked management about this seemingly extravagant new pricing and was told with a straight face, “Fuel Costs are Climbing”. Assuming their product comes from 3,000 miles away, and the vehicle uses special deli fuel that costs $300 a gallon or a regular truck commutes from 30,000 miles away there is no way the rising price of gasoline has added more than a few cents per pound in the delivery of their raw materials to justify a 50% spike. So, goodbye Chompies; it is now cheaper for me to drive to Lee’s Sandwiches 27 miles away for one of their 10-inch Vietnamese sandwiches for $2.50 each.
This is Floyd. Caroline and I have watched Floyd walking various streets in our neighborhood for the past three years and day in and day out, Floyd, most often shirtless, is headed somewhere. This wouldn’t be odd anywhere else, but here in Phoenix, Arizona you very rarely see the same person twice – ever. I’d often thought of stopping and asking this old guy his story but we were typically en route somewhere ourselves and couldn’t afford the time. Today I found the opportunity when I spotted him making his way east on Bell Road. Turns out Floyd, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, has been walking these streets of Phoenix to keep busy for the better part of thirty-five years. On occasion, he heads to Wickenburg and has had an odd job or two, but more often than not you’ll find him walking across Phoenix.
Roadside in Phoenix the flowers are coming on strong, so is the heat. We are close to 100 degree days and with that heat comes an explosion of flowers, even if they only last a couple of weeks. In addition to these bright orange and yellow beauties, the Saguaro are about to bloom and are covered with still closed buds.
Our friend Sapna with her new daughter Vedika.