🇺🇸 White Sands - Alamogordo, NM 02.26.24

“Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.”

- Tennessee Williams

San Diego to Los Angeles to Albuquerque… I’ve been one step ahead of the present moment to find myself at a crossroad. It’s all a process and part of the process is closing the gap between point ‘A’ and point ‘B’ in the mind of what is future thought and what is the present. Now is what we have and it was about slowing down, taking a deep breath, and feeling into what is happening at this very second at the end of the exhale. And… breathe in… and exhale… and here we are.

I was tired and at the end of my sinus/respiratory virus or whatever thing when I hit Los Angeles. It had been raining for two days and I wasn’t in the mood for much so I just sat in a coffee shop in Inglewood having a lovely conversation with my Russian friend. She has red hair, green eyes, and is 5’ tall and a stereotypical stern Russian person. Her accent is what you would think, excellent English and looooves American slang and idioms. “Deus, iT iS raining caTs and dogs. CaTs and dogs! Also, I am Jelly about your trip.” The Russian English puts hard accents on the consonants and anunciates every syllable. She called me “Deus” and I guess that’s American slang in her brain and I’m not arguing with this one.

I flew to Albuquerque from LAX, had some visits with my sweet friends, rescued my car from storage jail and loaded the essentials in the adventure pod and decided to head south from ABQ to visit some places in Southern NM. It’s an ideal time of year to roll through the desert with easy temps and few tourists. And ummmm… NM gasoline is $2.45 at the Allsups. Neat.

The road through Moriarty… and stops in Alamogordo, CloudCroft, 3 Rivers Petroglyph Park and the spectacular White Sands National Park. It’s a long haul but if you get the chance... New Mexico is filled with amazing things… with far less peoples mucking it all up.

CloudCroft is a destination village at 8,676ft in the Lincoln National Forest. There’s still snow on the ground and I hiked the Osha Trail in the late morning. Snow and mud and brisk fresh air. It’s a little bit CO mountains in SoNM.

In the evening I hit White Sands National Park for a sunset barefoot hike. It’s just next level for experiences. I was there 2 years ago and had much to say about it. Gypsum sand which is dense and easy to trek on (easier than beach sand). I parked, pinned my location on googly maps, and walked west until I saw no other footprints, ditched my shoes and walked another hour into the setting sun. The winds were blowing up dusty sand and made for a surreal visual as the sun dipped away. It was like being on another planet. Nope… it’s New Mexico dudes… it rock and rolls… from one end to the other.

So… as I type this wee story out ’m chewing on large amounts of gypsum sand and wiping it from my eyes, ears and nose holes. We are nature — be part of nature – breath nature – chew on nature–shake nature out of your shoes… and kick ass.

I’m headed towards El Paso, TX today. I always thought that I would never voluntarily visit the State of Texas… but life is full of surprises. El Paso is close to the Mexico border and it’s a quick easy flight to Mexico City from there, or even easier and cheaper, from the sister town of Ciudad Juárez.

Also, I can catch a cheap flight back to Denver from El Paso because my Dr called me and said I need a skin biopsy thing she was insistent about it. And I only trust one person to cut my hair and she’s in Denver… and to see all my lovely friends of course.

And… AND… the nurse lady from Denver Health called and in a very polite way told me I’m old and fat and need to take medications. “Ummmm… you’re getting up there, Thaddeus. Ummm… you might want to exercise a little… ummm… lose a little weight… ummm… ummm… maybe not eat pizza all the time…”

Hey lady! You don’t know me! I did 5 pushups the other week… AND… I don’t eat pizza ALL of the time… sometimes I eat tacos. Boom! Anyhoo, I need to take my old man pills… “where’s my pills?!?”(grampa simson voice) and they cost extra money (large amounts) outside of the State of Colorado.

As much as I think I’m done with Denver I have to accept I will always have some residual life there. Someday I’ll find a new gal to cut my hair, get my medical procedures done in Guatemala, pick up my old man prescriptions in Mexico… and have an actual forwarding address.

For now… I have PO Box in ABQ where you can send my birthday cards, valentines, and jury duty notices. BTW… the statute of limitations is up for the bench warrant for my 49 - ‘failure to appear’ for jury duty in Denver County. Sorry… I was busy thinking about stuff.

The wind is blowing west… so west is the direction I’m ultimately headed. Until there’s no more land. Then… and then… breath in… and exhale. And that moment will be now… and here we both are.

#losangelesblues

#newmexicolife

#zenbirdstudios

#theroadawayfromtaos

#babyiwasborntorun_likethatonesong

BTW… if you still owe me $ or 🍕 or 🌮 for artwork… the wind is blowing in your direction and I’m coming your way. Don’t even shut off the light and hide behind the couch… I’ll know…