Six plus months have flown! New Mexico was fantastic in October as was the food, the scenery and the amazing jewelry finds. Meeting up with old friends who we knew in Hawaii in the 90's who later moved to NM and have moved on again was a blast. Our worlds collide. Our once babies are grown and friends kids are having thier own babies.
After working like kids for one week on a balloon crew, early rising in the 50+ degrees morning and then cooking by afternoon and still going by 7 PM was a full day of activity, breaking bread at some of our old favorite restaurants, chasing our balloon pilot in the brush of indian reservations and jumping over railroad tracks. We finally got our "ride" at the best time. We took off from Intel and floated over our old home on Oakmount and the golf course, over new territory for us, a short landing in an arroyo, up in the air again and over a large framed structure being built (later to find out it was the new stake center). A perfect landing in the green grassy soccer field of the new H.S. Boy, has Rio Rancho changed. We got our old friends, Blaine and pat Emms in on the act too. they got a tethered ride because the winds in late morning were picking up.
Great memories of SPA time at the Casino, Bien Mur and fantastic buffet food. Better than Sandia Casino. Seing buffalo again and the drive down our favorite Bosque area of Corrales made the jaunt to Old Town reaally special. We covered every square inch of ABQ. Even ate at the OWL, 50's diner with a juke box at each table. The green chili was espeacially hot this season. Old town brought romance with our engagement anniversary at High Noon. Food and ambiance was superbe and the same family owns it after 35 years! We talked with the native jewelers, visited the Indian Pueblo Cultural center. Most special was sharing family hitory with thre Navajo and Pueblo cultures.
Our drive to San Pedro was poignant. The property that we dreamed of buiding an A-Frame on is still there, undeveloped. the view of the Continental divide on a gloomy overcast day felt erie. I went pine cone crazy collecting my treasures. Our "rock" marker outcropping was found and faint traces of Matt's "tree house". The beautiful lake that spread in front of our property was dried up. We found out from neighbors who live there that there are water wars. Other rancers have diverted the water on the other side of the divide. The old adobe house down the road was being remodeled and we went inside to say hello. It really is an LDS church, once someone's home donated to the church and and part of the Rio Rancho Stake. Amazng to think we spent 13 years in that region and could have raised our kids there instead of Hawaii.
With all our best intent to return next year, I don't think I could muster enough to chase again. I broke my toe, not from adventuring, but from Kent putting a metal chair in my path in the late night in the dark bedroom. I limped for the entire week and couldn't put my tennis shoes on. It was a matter of driving for the finish line. In retrospect, it was a miracle that a girl like me was able to tough it out due to sheer grit and determination.
These are the most recetn memories to date: more will come later.
Now March the second year of Mike and Hiroko's marriage brings us to the 27th and just be Beyond that, on April 6, Benjamin's 32nd. Last class, Aeronautical Psych. coming up and Kent off to Florida at the end of the Month. Mama is staying home.
Guests have been pouring into the suite, thank goodness. Hope we have it all filled up for Summer.
That's it for now.
