Ansel Adams (American, 1902-1984)

El Capitan, Sunrise, 1956

photograph

This is my backyard right now and I still catch myself staring at it like it’s new. Growing up in Tucson felt magical in ways I didn’t understand as a kid. My mom worked at the Desert Museum and we drove through the national park to get there, so I honestly thought this was just what everyone saw every day. Mountains, saguaros, endless sky. It never occurred to me that this wasn’t normal.

When I moved to the Midwest and the mountains disappeared, I remember thinking something was missing. I loved Chicago and still do. The diversity, the energy, the life in that city is unmatched. But a part of me always ached for the desert. I missed the open space, the quiet, the trails, the wildlife, the way the light hits the mountains at certain times of day. After 35 years away, coming back to Tucson felt like my whole system exhaled. My heart felt full, my mind settled, and my soul felt lighter in a way I can’t fully explain.

I love the ocean. I love big cities. But the desert is where I am most at home.