Family, Milage, and Experiences

The past couple weeks have worn me down a bit. And put a lot of milage on my car! Last weekend, the family and I loaded up and drove up to Farmington, NM. Family, and church. We actually ended up going a bit further north, with a stop in Durango, CO. That was very nice. And finished off with a run out to Navajo Lake State Park. 

I hadn't been that way in a long time. In Durango, it was also my first time at the Bar D Chuckwagon. Now I was already familiar with them and had heard some of their music from CD's that other friends and family had in the past. My son has been up there before with his grandparents. So it was indeed a treat. If you're not familiar with them, let me share a bit about it. The Bar D is an experience. You drive up into the mountains, park, and then you make your way up the hill and it suddenly opens into this little ranch with shops, a playground for the kids, a train ride, and then some. When dinner time comes, the signal for everyone to come to the dining area, which is outside. They do have a canopy that can be closed for inclement weather. Then they have everyone get in line by table and send you through the food line. Beef or chicken, with beans, and basically a ranch/cowboy affair. The food is really good. Afterwards, the Bar D Wranglers go up, and entertain you. And I mean entertain. They play music first and foremost, but they also joke, tell stories, call out people's birthdays, family reunions, and whatever else they're aware of. It's a really good time. Afterwards the shops are open a little longer, and you can meet and greet the band. So truly a highlight of the trip. 

Of course, I love checking Veteran Memorials. Imagine that. So, we headed over to the All Veterans Memorial Plaza in Farmington. It's a great park, I've been to several times. However, it was high on my to-do list this time because I missed out on a huge event there last year. The Woody Williams Foundation added a wonderful piece to it honoring the sacrifice of not only fallen warriors, but their families as well. It truly honors the loss while bringing home the fact that their families have to deal with the struggle as well. My mom got a little misty eyed out there. 

While at church on Sunday, it was a nice surprise to run into a friend working there I hadn't seen since Covid started as well. We had gone to seminary together. He's working at that church now! It was good to see him and catch-up face to face. 

There were other things, however I'm not sharing about them here. We came home, and it was brief for me. As I then turned around to head back on the road for Las Cruces and Mesilla, NM. Now, while it's been a short time since I was last in the Farmington and Four Corners area, it's been YEARS since I was last in Las Cruces and Mesilla. Just driving past the university was incredible to see how much has changed since I was last there. I must say, construction aside, it looks good. Plus sharing in fellowship with fellow Veterans and talking about God is always a good thing in my book. Smiles all around. I was gifted with a new challenge coin for my collection as well. That was a nice treat from the Marine Corps League Detachment that hosted the event for us. Now, I get to stay home for a couple days before I go back to work on Wednesday to start gearing up for the new school year. 

Family Healing: Road Trip

Well, last weekend ended on a bad note. On the upside (always have to look for that) the family and I went to Zuni. Needed to start some healing. It was good to see some family we don't get to see very often. A quick trip, but still needed. Here's some pics. This will be a short blog entry. I'll give a little info along the way.

So the trip in was nice. These are going to Zuni along NM-53.

Next up Zuni.

That's it for this time.

New Mexico is a State

Time for some culture. While to some readers, this may be like speaking in Greek, I'll try to give an example of what I'm talking about. When you're in other countries, you can easily offend someone with a label describing who they are nationally. For instance you'll run into some Okinawan's that will take offence to being called Japanese. Sure Okinawa is a part of Japan now, but this hasn't always been the case. You'll come across similar instances in various countries as well. I ran into it some in the Philippines, and I'm sure countries that have been torn apart, ravaged by wars, revolts, and other things have the same issue.

Here in the United States though, we are a bit bigger, geographically than many nations. In addition to that, we started as small communities along the east coast and spread out. States that had their own laws, and ways. Then banded together as a union to fight off oppression and tyranny from those countries people came here to escape. Even after that, our country was pieced together. Each piece being called a state. When you look at our flag, you see a star for each state. All 50 of them.

In general, people take pride in where they are from. Each state offering something unique. From song, to movies we see the distinction of how different life can be from Los Angeles, to Texas, to New York City. Californians, Texans, New Yorkers, etc. The point is that everyone comes from someplace and takes offense when it gets spit on. Some, more so than others. I'm no different.  And it's not just about where you were born, but where you grew up, and where you call home. For instance, I was born in Texas. I've spent time in California, and a few other places. But I've spent a significant portion of my life in New Mexico. To such an extent that I am a New Mexican. If someone asks where I'm from, I respond with, "Silver City, NM." Yes, that place that Billy the Kid lived for a while.

In elementary school, I know a big thing for my generation was having to learn all of the states, where they are, and what their capitals are. Then to take it further, we learned about state flowers, birds, and other stuff that generally bores kids to sleep. But we learned it. Nothings changed since then. At least not here. My kids have all had to learn the states, where they are, and their capitals. But apparently this isn't the case everywhere. I find it annoying and insulting when people hear the words, New Mexico, and follow up with, "Oh, you speak English so well." Or how about, "Do you need a passport to work down there?" On one occasion I was even asked, "How long did it take to get your green card. You sound just like an American." "I didn't know US Route 66 went through Mexico," It doesn't!

That's just the tip of the spear. Then you have customer service. You can call your bank, phone company, cable provider, etc and end up getting told that they can't help you because you're out of the country!

Taken a Bellehaven Elementary School when picking up my boy.

It really is a sign of how ignorant we've become as a nation. That we don't even recognize the names of our states unless we're watching a movie. What kills me even more is that there is so much history here, but we still don't get recognized. Before Arizona became a state, it was part of the New Mexico Territory. Some ambitious battles were fought in the Civil War to claim this area. We were accepted as a state in 1912 as the 47th state, BEFORE Arizona. We are home to the Trinity test site, where the first nuclear device was detonated. We supply a huge portion of the nations green chile. We're home to the International Balloon Fiesta, the world's largest hot air balloon festival. Bugs Bunny should have taken a left turn here. And so much more.

I strongly encourage any of you, who don't know, have forgotten, or just didn't pay attention to go back to school and learn some basic geography, and a little history. It's embarrassing that the only time you make the connection that New Mexico is a state, is when you're watching a UFO show talking about the Roswell Incident, or watching an extremely old episode of COPS.

We're not just New Mexicans, we are AMERICANS.

Road Trips and Past Memories

Took a little road trip with my brother last week. Primarily it was a business related trip, still working on settling my dad's estate, but it was good to see the old stomping grounds down in Silver City, NM for the few hours we were there. Man has that town changed since I left back in 1998. Just going down town and not seeing my dad's bookstore there anymore feels weird. Even the old Gila Theater is a ghost of itself. A old fashioned single screen built back in the 1950's. I can remember seeing many movies there once upon a time ago like Her Alibi, and The Land Before Time just to name a couple. These days it's closed with crappy displays up in the windows. Even the landscape of WNMU has changed. But there are old standby's that have stood the test of time such as "W" mountain, Kneeling Nun, the Drifter, Buffalo Bar are still there in what's left of their glory. I really need to take more pictures when I get down there.

But the weather was perfect. Had some down time while our lawyer was doing his job before we had to leave town. A bonus of small town living. He was able to get things drawn up, get it to the courthouse for signatures, the works before the end of business. Good stuff.

So here's where their will be some pics for a change.

First I'll start with Big Ditch Park. Basically it's a walkway with benches that runs next to a big ditch. The ditch is the result of runoff that literally washed away the original main street back in the day.

  Now here's a pic of "W" mountain. The first is a shot from a distance driving into town from neighboring Tyrone, NM.

Here's from the middle of town. You can see exactly where it is from the Lube & Wash which was built long after I moved away.

Look just to the left of the sign. It helps to enlarge the picture.

And to close, a piece of childhood memory. The park in Tyrone where my grandpa taught me how to play basket ball. A bit run down these days, but still in use. Yes, it's all metal, and the slides are pretty high.

The pill box to the right is a new construct.