There's a whole lotta desert between Palm Desert and Scottsdale. But I can't get enough of it, so bring on the sand, scrubby creosote bushes, saguaro and joshua trees. Something about those awesome survival skills gets me every time. Networking roots, poisonous roots, folding leaves, dropping leaves, spines that collect droplets of mist... A system of discipline and focus, efficiently and creatively using limited resources. You have to be impressed by that.
We went to Scottsdale to meet the new investors. Our humble lodgings boasted an oversized jacuzzi tub within inches of the bed, in full view of the door to the outside world. Fortunately, the complex had a lovely pool, so it was there I retreated while Rob and Dan went to meetings. Not a little guilt builds up sitting by the pool sipping a cold diet Coke and reading a People magazine, whilst husband and his partner are trying to negotiate a deal to save the company from losing the Kodak patents forever. When the guilt threatened to build to total distraction, I turned to Commentary magazine, Jewish guilt apparently being easier on me than the People magazine guilt.
When it came time for dinner, I joined the four guys for a trip into Scottsdale. We started off at a recommended haunt, the Rusty Spur Saloon, but the live and loud cowboy music was going to be a problem so we left before we sat down. We ended up in an Italian restaurant. As long as there's air conditioning, I was happy.
The part of the conversation that has stuck with me most is when one of the Iowa guys told about how his neighborhood rallied to help an elderly woman after she drove her lawn mower into a basement stairwell. When I commented on how lovely that was, that everyone came together like that, the other guy said, "That's what we like to call.... Iowa." Meaning that he defines his state that way - by its neighborliness. Not defined by monuments or theme parks. But by kindness.
Now, I've never been to Iowa, but I have no doubt of this gentleman's sincerity. After all, when he asked his wife to marry him, she said yes, but with the stipulation that they live in Iowa. Forever. I'm trying to imagine what I could say about California that could be as equivocal as what he said about his state. I can't really go with anything to do with hospitality. I guess I'd have to go with diversity. Everyone's from somewhere else. And somehow all these different people from different places, rich/poor, legal/illegal, all call California home. I'm not sure diversity ranks higher than kindness, but it makes me feel something that feels like pride. I guess the best of all worlds would be the state with diversity and kindness.
The grand finale of the evening was the unveiling of the tape. We gathered in the lobby. Rob brought in his special carrying case and opened it carefully, revealing the gleaming DOTS tape. Long ago I had underestimated the effect on people when they see the rolls of DOTS tape. But no longer. After all the talk and deck presentations and graphs and charts, there's nothing like the feeling of handling something real. Especially when it's so bright and shiny. They all oohed and awed in suitably reverential tones. Rob tucked the tape back in its case, and we called it a night.
Wednesday was so comprehensive and successful that the guys didn't need to meet on Thursday. So Thursday morning we bid a fond farewell to Part Two of our big adventure. On to Twin Falls!
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