Dry and cracked, a little like the heat

We've reached the point of the summer in Tucson where the earth is parched, the trees look a little withered, and it is a labor to keep any plant alive, even with the cooling refreshment of water.
Yesterday a monsoon rain rolled in - quietly, slowly building in the distance, until it impatiently erupted with a ferocity to relieve itself of its dust, wind, and water. It was welcome - at least the rain was welcome - but the accompanying dust that obscured the roadways caused the death of two people who didn't pull off the freeway far enough out of the line of truck traffic that incessantly moves across I-10.
I've been doing some reading this summer and would like to suggest The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, and The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Amy originally introduced me to Barbara Kingsolver, with her book The Bean Trees. The Poisonwood Bible and The Mermaid Chair are dramatically different but interesting all the same.
The books have been a welcome interlude - a way to occupy my mind from thinking too much about a little dog with degenerative neurological issues, and a respite from feeling dry and cracked, a little like the heat.

We got the news today that our former next door neighbor of 15 years, died immediately of a heart attack on Tuesday while biking. He was only 45 years old, and leaves a wife and 3 kids (ages 19, 15, & 13). Pat was a terrific neighbor, good friend, and a wonderful husband and father.
That leads to the question - why? Why does God allow death in people who are happy in life, secure in their obedience, and good examples of humankind? Surely You must really need his help for you to take him from here.
So, Pat, I'm sorry that I never told you how much we appreciated your being there for Amy when she came home from school in 1997 to find out I was in the hospital; and thanks for being such a kind neighbor to help fix the fuse on our air conditioner more than once, so we wouldn't roast; and thanks for driving me down to Lindsay/Broadway when Allison had her car accident and no one else was home. But, most of all, thanks for being the person you were to your family. Your love for your wife and kids was obvious - and they loved you too.
God be with you 'til we meet again.

Aloha!
This photo was taken in Ka'anapali, looking toward Black Rock (foreground) and Molokai (background).
We loved our visit to the Hawaiian Valley Isle of Maui and enjoyed all it has to offer.
We hope to go back in a year or so and snorkel again with the sea turtles, needle fish, puffer fish, buttlerfly fish, banner fish, reef trigger fish, and of course, humuhumunukunukuapua'a.