DEAR EDITOR

Recruiting Younger Readers

Meadow Jones and her parents (our daughter and son-in-law) love visiting us in Arizona, and they get a gift subscription to Arizona Highways from us. The magazine is Meadow's favorite reading material while practicing her potty skills. Her vocabulary has been considerably enhanced with cactus, condor and many other words.

This month, Highways is 81 years young and counting, and with readers like Meadow, we expect to be here another 81 years at least. Can you say "ecotourism," sweetie? -Peter Aleshire, Editor

Why I Read Arizona Highways

I was born in Bisbee [Brewery Gulch] and spent my younger years there. My father worked in the mines and died when I was 11 and my brother 14.

Our uncle took us on a camping trip across Arizona to help us with our loss after my father died. So the three of us and an old dog went on a two-month trip. The only rules were not to drive on a paved road unless there was no other way and to leave our camping places like we were never there. We got to see, feel and live in some wonderful backcountry. We also met people who treated us like family on and off the reservations.

Now that I'm in my senior years, I cannot just now go back to Arizona to feel the warm sun, see the sunsets and live in the places that helped me learn how to deal with my loss. But I can just for a little while, when I get your magazine. I hope someday to take my son and grandson to Arizona so that they can see for themselves why I read Arizona Highways. Thank you.

Digital Tunnel Vision

Director of Photography Peter Ensenberger's tunnel-visioned approach to digital puts him in the 19th century. Let's get up-to-date, folks! I'm not canceling my subscription, as I still think you put out a great publication.

Lighten Up, Guys (Preferably Late Light)

Marty Hulsebos ("Dear Editor," January '06) uses the term "enhancement." Whether an image is enhanced is a matter of opinion. Of course film manufacturers use focus groups to see what may be popular with viewers. The camera (film or digital) "sees" images in a different way than the human eye. No film or digital media has ever reflected "reality." I would like to say to all involved in this debatedon't take yourself and the images you produce so seriously! Have some fun!

Almost Like a Humor Page

My father moved us to Arizona when I was a young girl. He had been a medic during World War II and did not often speak of his experiences there. One night in France, he and a buddy found themselves wandering through an old farm. Dad heard a noise and called out, "Bite the dirt!" They both dove into a pile of manure. They lay there silently, making sure all was safe. When they got up, my dad's buddy reported that he had lost his dentures. They searched through the manure, fished out the teeth and rinsed them off in the watering trough. As my dad's buddy placed the false teeth back in his mouth, dad joked "Hey, when I said bite the dirt, I didn't mean it literally."

Go to the Little Boys Room

I must say that I am astonished that neither you nor the State of Arizona can spell "MOJAVE" correctly-and in a state where the Spanish influence is extreme. What is next? Navajoe, Haysus, Haveleena and Hopee? And your editor's column (January '06) - "Dave is really cool...I look as cool as my big brother...I haven't got any, like, sibling rivalries." What scintillating prose! You need to expand your vocabulary. You need to go to the little boy's room and take a Time Out. And while you're there, read Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, in particular Cyrano's exchange with Valvert. And also study several languages such as English, Spanish and French.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS highways on tv

Arizona Highways magazine has inspired an independent weekly television series, hosted by Phoenix TV news anchor Robin Sewell. For channels and show times, log on to arizonahighways.com; click on "DISCOVER ARIZONA"; then click on the "Arizona Highways goes to television!" link on the right-hand side.