Whatever I Feel LikeGosh!

I’m finally home after 11 days in New Mexico. I had such a wonderful time and I doubt I’ll be able to do the trip any justice here in writing, but I’m going to try. I think I’ll break it up into separate posts because there is a lot to recount and so much happened in such a short amount of time.

Some highlights before I begin, though:

• The visit with my uncle for four days was simply amazing. We visited Madrid, Santa Fe, the Acoma Pueblo, and Sandia Peak and we drove along historic Route 66, saw some spectacular New Mexico sunsets, and bonded in a way that we haven’t been able to before. We also had dinner with a woman who runs an art gallery in Old Town Albuquerque, her Phd. educated geologist husband and their hydrologist friend. That made for a most interesting and intellectually stimulating evening, even if I did feel completely out of my element.
• I walked so much every single day - my legs were sore every night when I went to bed. It has inspired me to start a long-needed exercise routine back here at home because I felt so good being so active.
• I attended my first business conference with 200 other compulsive overeaters from all around the world. The experience was enlightening, tiring, and rewarding all at once.
• I met Courtney!!! She is the sweetest, cutest thing ever.
• I met a half-aunt and half-cousin for the very first time. No one in my family has met them before. We had a great visit - I hated to see them leave, but I plan on keeping in touch with them in the future and hopefully meet the rest of my extended half-family. Story on that to come.
• A friend and I met the nicest guy on the flight to Chicago coming home. The three of us talked the entire 2 1/2 hour flight - it was over before we all knew it. I realized once I got off the plane that we never even exchanged names, but we talked about some pretty deep and personal things. Fascinating experience!
• I observed that the people in New Mexico are so freaking nice and friendly. I miss that here on the east coast where most people don’t dare to make eye contact with strangers. That was one of the driving forces for us wanting to move to Virginia last year, too. I do believe that when we leave this area, a big part of it will be in search of a place with kinder, gentler, friendlier people.

Coming up - I’ll start with my flight to New Mexico, and my first full day there which included driving along the Turquoise Trail to Madrid and Santa Fe.