April 20

In Tucson

The sun crested the eastern Rincon Mountains at 6:10 this morning. I was standing on a hill in just a position to see the Tucson Mountains far to the west, the Rincons to the east, and the Catalina Range dominating the north.

The sunrise first shown on the tips of the Tucson range and slowly descended down the slopes, giving the impression of the mountains rising slowly as one to meet the new day. Then, the halo of gold brightened enough on the eastern Rincon in anticipation of the sun’s rays cresting the summit and striking where I stood in greeting.

The only sounds that accompanied were the periodic calls of mourning doves traveling among the saguaro forest and the occasional cardinal expressing itself from the top of a mesquite tree.

Quickly did the sun’s warmth awaken the desert, and a gentle breeze stirred from the north as if the land were sighing awake.