California, 2014-2015.

I grew up in a small desert town in southern California. My house was remote even by small-town standards; I walked miles to the bus stop or to visit the few friends who lived nearby.

I would get lost in my thoughts on those long, hot walks, humming tuneless songs and dreaming about running away into the mountains. In my imagination I’d set up a camp in an abandoned school bus and befriend wild animals, living on my wits and gifts from strangers.

I did run away a few times, but never made it more than a few hours in the desert before I gave up and returned home. No one ever knew I was gone.

Then I moved away and forgot about the desert for long time.

Many years later, I’m back in southern California and the memories came flooding back. These photos are my reacquaintance with the desert.