I’ve been back in Tucson as an official resident since July 1. I’ve learned being native doesn’t mean desert heat and I are naturally simpatico. Before I turn this into a Fitzsimmons cartoon (not that there’s anything wrong with that), I want you to know the exact moment I embraced the heat and came home. 

One night, 2 1/2 months after the move, I was at the Brandi Carlile show at the Rialto. Sure, the music helped, but what happened was close to religious — it was a sweat lodge due to all of the people on the general admission floor. Perhaps it was the flashback to the last time I remember true bliss in Tucson — standing in the middle of Club Congress at a Camper Van Beethoven show. It was a sweat lodge … it was heaven. 

There are those at music venues, however, who disturb these experiences. When did it become en vogue for young ladies to bring large handbags to shows? I remember putting my ID and cash in my pocket. What else did I need? The large-purse users whacked me several times. Use Queen Elizabeth as your role model. Take a small bag, or use your pockets. It is not nice to hit fellow concert goers with your large squishy metallic designer bags, especially during a religious experience. 

On the flip side of religion and returning home, last weekend, my worlds collided. I accompanied my husband to Yom Kippur services Friday night. I left early to attend the funeral rosary of my mother’s cousin at Carrillo’s Mortuary. There, in the shadow of the cathedral, I was surrounded by family all holding rosaries. The only real comfort was sitting with my mom on one side and my first cousin on the other. I thought to myself, “What great company we are — three people who’ve turned the moral compass of my family upside down: my mother who gave birth out of wedlock, my cousin who came out to me when she helped me move to Seattle, and me, the girl who gave up the rosary for Yom Kippur. 

It’s good to be back Tucson. 

This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 3, 2007.

10 replies on “Coming Back From the Dead?”

  3. Sam– In your honor:
    I has a dream last night, but I forget what it was
    I had a dream last night about you, my friend
    I had a dream–I wanted to sleep next to plastic
    I had a dream–I wanted to lick your knees
    I had a dream–it was about nothing

  4. OH my god. I was also at that Camper show. I love them, and I go every time they’re around. At that particular CC show–the two large women right in front of the amps at center stage were hilarious. Tell me you saw them? They were having hippie meltdowns during CVB’s rendition of Tusk…god, it was grand.

  5. Thanks Mari!

    They say bowling alleys got big lanes
    (Got big lanes… Got big lanes…)

    There’s nothing here that rhymes with anything…

  6. “I accompanied my husband to Yom Kippur services Friday night. I left early to attend the funeral rosary of my mother’s cousin at Carrillo’s Mortuary. … me, the girl who gave up the rosary for Yom Kippur.”

    Just out of curiosity, and since you brought it up: Was it hard to change religions as part of the process of getting married? I mean, I assume you had accepted Jesus and all that is involved in being Christian. Is there a form of “un-accepting Jesus” that occurs in order to convert to Judaism? Was this something that you absolutely had to do in order to be accepted into a Jewish family?

    Again, just curious. Here are the configurations of some of my friends who are married:

    — Wiccan marries Jew, converts to Judaism.
    — Catholic marries atheist, they both keep their belief systems. Not sure how they’ll raise their children.
    — Catholic marries Jew, they both keep their belief systems. Raising son to believe whatever he decides.

  7. Yikes Dolly… let’s get personal… unaccepting anything (questioning everything) I guess depends on your personality. And just because I gave up one thing for another, doesn’t mean I have all the answers. In the end, not knowing what the truth is makes me far more content at this age than thinking I or anyone else really has figured this all out. If anyone has out there, then yes, you are full of cuacha. Other than that Dolly, these are discussions more appropriate over beer or cocktails at 3 a.m.

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