Cry Me a River

by Pa Rock
Local Observer

Yesterday evening I watched a flock of geese, flying in V formation, above Goodyear, Arizona. The geese were headed due east.

East?

It was almost dark, a time when they should have been fluffing their goose down and settling in for an evening's rest in some quiet backwater. But where is the backwater, or any water for that matter, in the West Valley of Hell? Maybe they were headed for a pool in the backyard of some foreclosed, abandoned home. I certainly hoped they were not counting on finding water in the Agua Fria (Cold Water) River. The last time that particular rocky trench contained water there were probably dinosaurs lining its banks.

My move to Arizona a couple of years ago was a rush job. I had to find a place to rent via the Internet and telephone. One of the first things I did was to study maps of the West Valley so that I could find something convenient to my work. Every map of the Phoenix area that I consulted showed the Agua Fria River meandering through the desert communities of Glendale and Avondale, close to Goodyear and Surprise. It was always colored a bright blue.

I have lived here long enough to experience rain - on a couple of rare occasions. Rain rolls off of the desert and collects in the parking lots and roadways where it causes surprise flooding. But rain never, ever causes any water to collect in the Agua Fria - I've checked!

Reluctantly, I have come to two conclusions regarding the clowns who create maps of Phoenix and its environs: 1. They are on the take from the tourism industry, and 2. They are lying bastards!

My best guess is that the geese were headed toward the Salt River which is on the other side of Phoenix proper. The Salt has water, lots of water. It laps up against Arizona State University where 50,000 young people spend their parents money riding the new Metro Light Rail and drinking designer coffee. They are lucky bastards!

And, on a semi-related note, Arizona is making plans for its share of the stimulus money that the Feds are distributing. We were told that the West Valley could get connected to the Metro Light Rail in twenty years - maybe. That was before the stimulus money was even anticipated. Now they are saying that it will still be twenty years before we can get connected to the Light Rail - but, if the stimulus is sufficient, they might be able to start providing covered parking for the Light Rail riders in the East Valley now.

They are truly lucky bastards! But until that covered parking is completed, may the yuppies have to wash the goose poop off of their little cars every morning before they hit the Starbucks! There ought to be some fairness in this life somewhere, or at least an occasional mud puddle.

Benson

by Pa Rock

My friend Benson is a senior airman in the Air Force. She is a mental health technician in the unit where I work. Benson was born in the Philippines and arrived in the United States after residing for awhile in Canada. She recently received her United States' citizenship.

Occasionally Benson and her husband, Bobby, and their housemate, Jeremy, drag me out of my apartment to share an adventure. We have been to a couple of very good plays and also taken in the activities of two First Fridays in downtown Phoenix. Last night was another Benson adventure.

Benson (her given name is Giovanna - which is very pretty, but she goes by Odessa - which is very Texas) plans on becoming a social worker. To strengthen that effort she does volunteer work that will eventually shine on a resume. Benson is currently a volunteer with the International Rescue Committee, an organization that helps refugees get established in this country. She is a sponsor for a large family from Burundi.

Last night Benson had plans to take her refugee family to see the Christmas lights in Glendale. I got invited to go along because she wants to get me involved with the IRC and figured that some first-hand involvement would get me hooked. She also needed an extra car and driver to get her trip on the road.

I arrived at Benson's half-an-hour early and played with their dogs (or did the dogs play with me?) while she and Bobby and Jeremy got ready. They were wrapping some last minute holiday gifts for the family from Burundi, and Bobby was experimenting with their new camera - something that would become an important part of the evening to come. When things were finally organized, we convoyed over to the apartment of the refugees.

The Burundi family was delightful. The father, Emanuel, and the mother, Justina, appeared to be about the age of my children. They had five children (four boys and a girl) ranging in age from twelve down to around two). They had arrived in Arizona several months before from Burundi by way of a few years in Tanzania. Getting into their home required hugging everyone and shaking several hands. We were immediately offered some non-alcoholic cider that was shortly followed up a large hot and spicy omelet prepared for the group. I passed on the cider, but accepted a portion of omelet for the specific purpose of not offending our hosts. It was delicious!

The excessive holiday lights of old town Glendale were a hit, especially with the kids. Every palm tree (a couple of which had to be sixty feet tall) had their trunks wrapped in colored lights, and many had their fronds outlined in lights as well. Every building and bush was also aglitter. The kids eagerly posed everywhere and then crowded around Bobby to see their digital images on his camera. Before the evening ended, we stopped in a local cafe and had hot chocolate for ten.

I think that Benson has sold me on the International Rescue Committee. It was obvious that she and Bobby - and Jeremy - were getting as much out of the experience as their Burundi family. Everybody was benefiting, and everybody was happy!

It was a beautiful evening.