From time to time when I’m not waxing sentimental about my days in New York, I like to wax sentimental about my days in Tucson (Arizona).
I moved to Tucson when I was just barely 20, after dropping out of the Rhode Island School of Design because of, or maybe instead of—it was never quite clear—a mental breakdown. I thought the desert would be a nice place to start fresh and find myself, as they say.
And it was. I loved it there, made amazing friends and stayed for 7 years—which is essentially a lifetime when you’re in your twenties.
I had jobs and I finished my degree in Tucson, but somehow I also had veritable gobs of time on my hands. On Saturdays, I’d spend a massive chunk of my day seeking out yard sales on a meandering route that would ultimately land me at the bakery with the really good streusel muffins. The bakery also happened to be pretty close to two good thrift shops.
It was a win-win situation, if there were no good yard sales I’d still get a giant streusel muffin and head to the thrift shops.
I have a few precious Arizona-themed vessels left from those years. My set of cactus glasses, a saguaro mug and my hand-painted Time To Draw glass. I’ve always loved the latter, because I got it around the time I left Tucson to draw (and paint) at an MFA program.
Happy Friday (even though it’s Sunday)!
