DHS replaces Chicago as the “ Windy City ”

Linda and Bill Himes, our weekend visitors from Chicago , literally blew into town Friday for their first visit to Desert Hot Springs and our new home. Last year, we visited them around the same time of the year in Chicago . It was much colder, but no where near as windy.

I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. Without our wind, how could we watch the grace of the dancing windmills every morning from our high above the desert- floor perch? Without our wind we would be forced to breathe all of that nasty Los Angeles smog, coastal fog and not have the beautiful see-for-ever mornings and evenings.

And besides, in just a few short minutes we can run down valley, tucked under the shield of San Jacinto to watch the Festival of Lights Parade in relative calm or golf on a balmy afternoon.

Speaking of “relative” that’s what our weekend guests are—relatives. Diana’s Sister Linda and quite famous husband Bill Himes, the world-wide composer of music for the Salvation Army and Central Territorial Conductor, both circle the globe almost non-stop, he conducting and composing, and she acting as the Central Territorial Young Adult and Bible Ministry Teacher for the Army.

By a democratic vote, I was outnumbered three to one (Diana taking her sister’s side). DHS has now officially taken over the top spot in the nation as the windiest city, Chicago is second. So what, I say? Positive person that I am, I will just add that to our other credits—it’s not just the water anymore now we can boast of the world’s best drinking water, our exclusive healing volcanic mineral water and the windiest city in the nation. Capitalize on what we are known for I say. And if it’s true that Two Bunch Palms was formerly a hide-out for Al Capone, we have another natural connection to the former windiest city, Chicago .

On a windy afternoon in DHS

Bill Effinger

© 2005