We have officially past our halfway point and are 6 months into our MVS term. The full work weeks, busy weekends, fun activities, and deep conversations have made this time fly away. Recently, I've noticed the warmth of the sun on my skin and some of the cacti are showing flower buds. March is a unique time as temperatures reach the 70s and 80s again, but the winter rains drastically stop. For me, it feels like the weather has been the gauge of my time in Tucson. We started when it was hot and humid, and I knew that we would end when it was hot and humid again. This past weekend was a sign that spring is quickly approaching. This afternoon, I put on shorts, a tank top, and chacos and walked to a coffee shop with Michaela to write this blog. Before I know it, it will be truly summer in Arizona.
Since starting at WMG, I learned quickly that enough water falls on the city of Tucson than what the population (1 million people in the metropolitan area) demands, we just need to implement ways to harvest and conserve water and keep it within our watershed. While I knew monsoons played a vital role in precipitation, something I did not expect in Tucson was the amount of rain and snow that falls on the city during the winter months. Interestingly, Tucson averaged only 0.59" of rain for the month of February, which is below the typical average of 0.84". What was exciting was that the city had two mornings with snow on the ground, about 0.5 inches combining the mornings. I looked out my window both mornings with confused excitement in my eyes. According to some of my coworkers, snow falls usually about once every five years. On one of my bike commutes, I smiled and giggled when I saw some children having a snowball fight in the morning before all the snow melted in the afternoon.
What's truly exciting is the amount of snow on the mountains, specifically the Catalinas and Rincon mountains. In the past week, about a foot of snow has fallen on Mt. Lemmon, meaning that in a few months, that snow will melt, trickle down the mountain, and replenish Tucson's aquifer. While topics at work around the Colorado River, Tucson's drought strategic plan, and the Southwest water shortage can feel overwhelming and out of our control, it's nice to go to the flowing river or see the snowy mountains and remember why we do the work we do.
My work with the River Run Network has shown me what it’s like to be a part of the change and help restore the heritage of Tucson’s creeks and rivers. The rivers have stories to tell. For me, that means getting into the creek and being able to understand their past and quirky personalities in order to advocate and care for our rivers. I continue to lead monthly clean-ups along the Santa Cruz watershed which have been a reminder that our individual actions mean something. So far, we’ve collected over 70 bags worth of trash and have had over 50 River Run Network volunteers participate.
Outside of work, our house has been shifting! At the beginning of February, we add a 5th housemate! Harper Baer is a volunteer at Casa Alitas and is in a gap year between high school and college and is taking 3 months to volunteer here in Tucson. Although technically not through MVS, we've incorporated her into our meal and chore routine, and it was healthy for us to mix up our same routine. It's been fun having her around! Also, Cade and his partner Gretta recently got engaged when she was visiting at the end of February!
I've also shaken up my weekly routine by joining an outdoor volleyball league in March till the beginning of May. I haven't played volleyball in over a year since college, but it felt so good to play something that was familiar to me; I woke up the next day with the familiar aching joints I had in college and that made me smile. We've also been going to a variety of events in Tucson, including Tucson Festival of Books this past weekend! We saw at least 7 units of people from Shalom Mennonite. Michaela described it well that it felt like a Shalom gathering like you would find at a MCC Relief Sale.
In February, we had a weekend retreat in Pinetop, AZ for time to relax, play games and puzzles, read, and just spend time together. This time was deeply needed; since then, we've been able to piece the next 5 months till the end of our term...that's terrifying to me. From March- to mid-June, our house calendar is packed with different people coming to Tucson, us leaving for different areas. I've been processing what that means for me. I knew that my MVS term was going to be temporary, but I didn't realize how my relationship with my housemates, the Shalom community, Tucson's mountains, and the Sonoran desert were going to impact me. As I continue to think about the next steps and where I might be heading, I am continually reminded how Tucson is shaping me and becoming a special place in my heart.
Here are some photos from our retreat and other Tucson adventures!
Love it!