I’ve come to the conclusion—having been in the desert wild for the last 6 months now—that everyone here is running from something. And by “running” I don’t necessarily mean in the literal sense, like “running from the law,” although, and you didn’t hear this from me, but I did happen to hear that apparently there was a love triangle between the present controller of a nearby property, the former controller, and the executive administrative assistant that allegedly resulted in the former controller being found dead by the pool. “Heart attack,” is what the official record says, but I heard—and of course I wasn’t here so I can’t be sure but—rumor has it, the admin assassin, I mean assistant, has a background in plant molecular biology so my mind immediately goes to poison, and that’s what the 411 is saying. AND apparently her 2nd cousin is the coroner. Word around town is she offed the one to be with the other, but the coroner found “no evidence of foul play.” How convenient. Now I ain’t one to gossip. I just mind my own never mind, so you ain’t hear nothing from me but that sound suspicious as all Tom Fuq & Foolery!

As for everyone else round these here parts, well, they’re all running from something. That’s for certain. Or looking for a whole lotta nothin. Me included. Not in a bad way though. But you come to the desert to get away or to run away. For me, maybe it’s a bit of both. I needed a fresh start, a clean slate, a refuge from the people and places that—well, you already know. But here in the desert, everyBuddy’s got a past…