Tucson: Day 5

In the morning, we went to The Lost Barrio, a fantastic shopping area with stores containing home furnishings to die for (if you live in a Tucson hacienda, and not a small New England apartment like I do), vintage bric-a-brac and clothing, garden decorations - you name it.

One of the things I love about Tucson is the exuberant decorating on the exteriors of buildings. Back in Newport, the neighbors would go absolutely apeshit over something like this and the tenants would be forced to remove everything that gives the street character and make it as boring and homogenous and the rest of the shopping district. Not in Tucson. Individuality and artistic expression are expected and encouraged.

Speaking of artistic expression, I loved these illuminated paintings by a local artist, who is also the owner of the shop. She has a little painting studio in one corner, so I imagine she works on her art between customers. So much for my therapist's theory that you can't schedule creativity and that you have to wait for the muse to come knocking. A girl's got to make a living - and she does, in fine and creative style.

It was 100 degrees for the first time this year in Tucson yesterday, and I was feeling it by the time we got back to the house. Lynette and I had a lunchtime snack of ice cream with chocolate sauce and we took naps while we waited for the Army Dude and his sister to come back from an appointment with the doctor. They brought us Indian food from the New Delhi Palace and we ate again. Yes, technically we had two lunches. Then we lounged around all afternoon. She watched her favorite game shows while I read Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love and occasionally shouted out answers to questions on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Lynette is 88 and I'm on vacation, and that's how we roll.