Readers of this spot will know I’m no Arizona fan. But tonight was one of those nights where you just look up at the sky and say, thanks God, for allowing me this moment of radiant tranquil beauty.

The monsoon is creeping in – you can tell because it’s not just blazing hot, there’s a bit of humidity in the air as well. Above, to our west, the sky is a dazzling azure blue with salmon-tinged clouds reflecting the sun’s passing of another day. Above us, to our east, ominous dark clouds with virga creating a big beautiful rainbow that shimmers against the gray. You can tell it’s a good rainbow because the violet at the bottom is as striking as the dusky red on the top.

The pool is 89 degrees, and now that I’ve turned the loudest pool filter in the neighborhood off, there’s only the sound of surf music playing softly in the background and the swishing of the water. Although it’s just me and Tracey in the pool, we’re not alone – a constant stream of bees and other winged insects are stopping by to take a drink from our trickling fountain. It’s a perfect arrangement – they don’t bother us, and we don’t bother them.

As the sun sinks further behind the houses to our west, the blue sky has turned an ashen gray and the rainbow has performed a lovely disappearing act. The doves and the fufu birds are passing overhead, heading for their nighttime sanctuaries. The Pinot Grigio hasn’t stayed as cold as it was when it was poured – after all, between the air temps still hovering around 100 and a patio surface still hot to the touch after such a blazing day, nothing’s going to stay cool out here.

But all is good. The new rabbits are easing into their new situation nicely, the Red Sox are now five – count ’em, five – games up on the Yankees, I’ve been ordered not to work any more 85-hour weeks, and the surf musicputs my mind and my thoughts at ease.

The perfect song for this moment in time? How about this one from the best damned surf band (in my opinion) there ever was – not to mention one of the finest guitarists I’ve ever heard – The Sandals (featuring John Blakeley) performing their classic “Theme from ‘The Endless Summer'”.

It doesn’t get a whole lot better than this. Enjoy!