"We've Lost One of the Fifty" - revisiting New Mexico

"Just a really awesome picture
Cliff took in NM"

So there is something very different and unique about New Mexico.  We have been there a couple of times and I could never put my finger on it .. but I think I understand more now.  While visiting there last month, we learned that there are, apparently, a lot of people in the country who don’t even know that New Mexico is a state.  We met some wonderful people who shared some stories with us and showed us a copy of “New Mexico” magazine.  There is a running column in the magazine entitled “We Lost One of the 50”.  It is all stories that people write in about their experiences trying to convince people that yes, they actually are a USA State.  They have tourists coming into their stores to stock up on water because ‘everyone knows you can’t drink Mexican water”, or tourists coming into banks to get their dollars exchanged for Pesos.  There was a couple, originally from NM who went into a travel agency in FL to plan a trip home and the agent asked them to show her where in California, New Mexico actually was.  One of the extremes was a woman who called the State Department about getting a passport for her son and when she said she was from NM they gave her the number of the “Embassy” because they would have to handle it there.  And, I think, the worst of all was the New York Times during the elections in 2008, publishing a map of the United States electoral college and placing NM in the wrong place on the map.  But the people of NM seem to be amused by it. They know who they are and how much their home state has to offer. They are easy going, light hearted and very proud of their State…as they should be.

"Hangin' out with the girls of Hillsboro"

The place where we had this discussion was in a tiny….very tiny town… called Hillsboro.  With a population of 125 people, you can imagine that they all know each other and are all quite happy to greet any new people who come to visit their town.  They have a social gathering place called Black Range Vineyards.  We stopped in for a beer and ended up spending almost 6 hours there.  Throughout the afternoon, as we sat and chatted with the owner, probably half of the townspeople stopped in, had a drink, told us stories and chatted with each other, planning what everyone was going to get for a neighbor for his birthday and how they were going to celebrate it.  There were passers-by who stopped in for directions, bikers who were out on the roads and stopped in to warm up and travelers just looking for some water or a cup of coffee.  And everyone was greeted the same way that we were – with a big smile and open arms.  At one point I looked around and realized the whole place had turned into a “ladies” wine and chat, so, missing those kinds of days with my friends I went and asked if I could have my picture taken with them.  They were so gracious, not only with the picture, but asking if they could buy me a drink and have me join them for a while.  For a long time after we left the town, I had this romantic notion of wanting to move there – where everything was so simple and friendly and unassuming – but then I realized how far it was to the store, and worse yet, I remembered the stories of how they have virtually no internet and no cell coverage – which brought me back to reality very quickly.

"Pecan Groves of NM"

One of the things we are always amazed about is what products are the biggest business in different states.  Who knew that Texas grows rice, and Arizona grows cotton and New Mexico is the leading producer of Green Chiles?  The other surprising thing for me is the abundance of Pecan Farms there are in many places, including NM…and they are one of my favorite sights.  There is something so artistically beautiful about Pecan Groves.  They are planted in precise, perfect rows, much like the graves in a Military cemetery.  No matter what angle you look at them from they are perfectly aligned, perfectly straight and almost always the same height.  As you drive around you can see them in different stages of growth..from little saplings to tremendous sprawling trees forming beautiful, perfectly matching canopies.  You can also see them at all different stages of growth and harvest.  You may go by one grove that is completely flooded with irrigated water, and the next grove is in the process of being trimmed with huge organized piles of discarded branches ready to be burned.  I am not a very organized person, but for some reason I can drive around for hours and be just mesmerized by the beauty and precision of such a huge undertaking.  I can’t imagine how much work it is.

"Our little piece of heaven for the night"

Early on in our travels we realized there would be some places that we would not be able to travel to with the Fifth Wheel so we bought a small tent and all of the accessories so we could go to some back road places off the grid.  I think in my first blog about New Mexico I told you about the City of Rocks, outside of Las Cruces…a huge outcropping of rocks that you can climb around and over and through.  We have had the occasion twice now to camp out at the base of one of the rocks and it is amazing!  You are out in the middle of nowhere..there are some other

"Cliff's Time Exposure of the night sky"

people camping, but at the time we were there, there weren’t many.   Each “site” has a fire ring and a picnic table and plenty of room to set up camp.  The main event is the sunset, which is absolutely amazing and perfect every night.  Once the sun sets and the stars come out it is one of the most spectacular sights you can imagine.  I have always enjoyed looking at the stars at night, but never have I been in such a dark, remote area, with no ambient light from nearby towns or, even from other people.  We were fortunate enough to have almost moonless nights which made the sky even darker and more spectacular.  The first time we camped out there, I  woke up in the middle of the night to perfect darkness and absolute quiet...not a single sound.  Until the coyotes started howling in the field right behind us.  I don't know how close they actually were, I don't think I want to know.  At first I was absolutely scared to death, but Cliff calmed me down, and it was pretty amazing to listen to...so amazing that this last time we were there I couldn't wait to hear them again.

I know I haven't written in a long time.  I don't want to keep apologizing for not writing, but people are so very gracious asking me when I will continue our story.  I won't make promises, all I can say is our life continues to be amazing and I will try harder to share some of our experiences with you all.  In the meantime, follow your dreams, hug your family, and if you are reading this just before you go to bed, sleep tight.