Joshua Thorin Messer

We learned that the word “Penix” just keeps being funny.

We learned that 115° heat is basically unbearable.

We learned that one should rent a car if one is going to Phoenix. The distances (like in LA) are too great and cabs get way expensive way fast.

I personally learned that I don’t seem to like Phoenix much. At least not in the hot months. Everything that seemed interesting to me required being outdoors for long periods of time. I don’t care about Casinos. I’m not super into Southwestern Native art.

I’m not sure if this would hold up to scrutiny or widened experience, but we ran into a lot of incredibly friendly and helpful people. A teenage boy working at a food stand in the Phoenix airport was smiling, kind, attentive, and polite when I bought an OJ. He thanked me very genuinely and enthusiastically when I dropped my $0.75 change into the tip jar. This is just one example of many. In every instance when we dealt with a service provider (with the lone exception of the surly car-rental guy) we were treated so well that it alienated me a little bit. Being total downer neg-heads, real expect the worst types, Renee and I were startled, confused, and suspicious of this kind of behavior. Renee suggested that the extreme heat boiled everyone’s brains until they became friendly, upbeat, and helpful. Perhaps this is not giving the people of Phoenix credit, but we hardened cynics have to explain things in a way consistent with our worldview.

If you take nothing else away from these reports, please, please, please remember these:

1. Do not go to Phoenix between May and October unless you like deadly, punishing heat
2. Rent a car