We made it home last night. Really late. We are very tired.
Katie, however, is still at camp, and they are closed today…so her Dad will go pick her up Monday morning while I’m at work.
I think we’ve all missed Katie…right?
So here’s a reminder of the princess herself.
“Can I come home now Mom? Please?”
We spent a day in Santa Fe which in some ways reminded me of Italy; the town centered on a square, and the narrow streets lined with galleries.
And of course the churches. St Francis of Assisi, where a statue of the first Native American Indian to become a saint stands out front….
…to the Loretto Chapel which houses the mysterious unsupported circular staircase up to the choir loft…
…to San Miguel the oldest church, whose refurbished architecture reminded me of everything New Mexico.
We walked among the galleries and parks under the brilliant blue sky I’ve begun to expect here. I drank in the color and the light…
…appreciating the old…
…and the new.
And when we could walk no more we drove up the mountain into the snow and watched the sun set.
We’ll be home soon, far away from the endless sun, turquoise skies, exquisite light and colorful buildings that are New Mexico. And winter hasn’t released Michigan. I’m told there is snow in Sunday’s forecast. But winter can’t get me down now.
Because I’ll have the colors and sights of New Mexico in my heart.
Yesterday and today we visited the ancient homes of cliff dwellers.
Today we visited Bandelier National Monument, the home of cliff dwellers who built homes on the valley floor and up in the red cliffs along the walls of the mesas.
We had a wonderful afternoon of walking under New Mexico blue skies, imagining what life was like back in the days when these homes were built.
We were so far back into the mountains that the only sounds were our feet on the path, the wind in the trees, the call of birds and the chatter of long eared Abert squirrels.
Yesterday we had a guided tour of the Puye cliff dweller homes, built both on top of the mesa…
…and within the cliffs.
Our guide was a young man not yet 21 whose family traces back hundreds of years on the lands he showed us.
We learned about the way his people felt about the land we were standing on. He said that the cliff dwellers left the area when their source of water dried up.
What caused the stream to dry up we asked? He said his elders felt it was because there had been fighting among the people so God had dried up the water and forced them to leave.
Personally I’d have a hard time leaving the peace and beauty, not to mention the views from the cliffs and mesas.
I’m sure it was hard on the original inhabitants too.
Today we spent more time at the Petroglyph Monument west of Albuquerque.
On a 2.5 mile hike along a hill covered with huge black volcanic rock were hundreds of petrogylph drawings done several hundred years ago.
Amazingly they are still there.
They are just sitting out along the hillside waiting to be discovered over and over again by tourists and locals alike.
We had a wonderful time looking for them.
And I’m sure we missed many.
Blue skies, history there on the rocks, sunshine on our faces.
Can’t beat it.
Guess where I am.
Hint: It’s not snowing here.
Though it’s not exactly hot either.
But it IS colorful!
So…where do you think I am?
When some people hear that I work on truck safety issues they ask me why. I have several reasons, most of which you’re heard here before.
I talk to people, write about issues, call, visit and email my government representatives, attend meetings and travel because all of that gives me something to do with my anger and my grief. Even after six years the pain is just below the surface and still surprises me by its intensity.
I also do it to honor my Dad who was always there for all of us. I do it because unlike government he wouldn’t spend years studying and talking about safety, he’d just fix stuff. One of the last things he did the week before he was killed by a tired trucker that December was to add handrails to unsafe places in his church. Because he saw a safety hazard and he knew he could fix it. So he did.
Just last night, on my way to bed I heard on the nightly news about a pregnant couple, driving to visit his parents with her parents in the car, who stopped on the freeway this past snowy Saturday afternoon because there was an accident up ahead. A semi hit them from behind. The pregnant mother is dead, the baby born without a heartbeat is on life support. Another family is spun deeply into mourning.
And that’s why I do it.
As most of you know we have an aunt who is in her late 90’s. She lives alone in an apartment and has become afraid to venture too far away on these cold winter days. With her eyesight failing, and her hearing long gone she’s feeling more and more isolated and lonely.
Last year I asked all her relatives to send her Valentines…and they did! She received over 20 cards during the days surrounding Valentines Day. The cards came from across the country and were a complete surprise to her. The cards and the short messages written inside gave her endless pleasure long after the day was gone and most of us had forgotten all about the caper. You can read the original blog entry here…and about the results here.
So this year I think we should do it again…and maybe our experience will inspire you. Look around, see who might be lonely, a little sad, feeling a little left out. It doesn’t have to be someone elderly, but look there first. Sometimes we get so involved in our busy lives that we forget the elders that were always there when we needed them. As we move on, we need to take care we don’t leave them behind.
But anyone who needs a lift would be delighted to receive a few (or more than a few) cards from people that care about them and snail mail is a lovely way to show you care. For the price of a card and a stamp you can make someone’s day. Who wouldn’t like to do that?
Think about it. Isn’t there someone in your life who would smile at opening the mailbox and finding something besides bills and junk mail? What have you got to lose? Organize a Valentine’s Caper of your own, or just send a single card.
Take a moment to tell someone you love them in a tangible, good old fashioned way. Not only will it make someone smile, it will make your day too.
And I, for one, can’t wait to hear all about your ventures!
So how does 9.5 inches of snow change a person’s normal routine? Pretty much in all ways you can imagine.
That’s how much snow they say we got around here, less than the predicted 10-15 inches…and we’ve cleaned up faster than they figured we would. But still I am behind in my normal emails and blogging.
I spent Tuesday night at a hotel located within a mile of the office. I couldn’t see my car that night, parked out behind the building, and I had no landmarks or other way to measure the accumulating snow. But I could hear the wind howling all night so I wasn’t too surprised Wednesday morning to find my car encased in it’s own little snowdrift.
Too bad I didn’t have a camera. But suffice it to say that I wasn’t going to be able to get in the car and drive to work. And I didn’t have a shovel with me. Silly me. So I used my ice scraper and my feet to pull most of the snow away from the front of the car. The mile drive was pretty slippery and I’m glad I didn’t have to drive further.
It snowed all afternoon Wednesday, and I worried about the drive home. But the main roads had tracks in them and we all drove slow so it wasn’t too bad. Thursday morning I left home extra early and found that once I got out to the main road the drive was fine. So I ended up at work extra early.
All this driving, getting up early, leaving in the dark, coming home after dark takes its tole. Wednesday I fell asleep on the sofa after my commute and slept all night. I haven’t actually seen the snow here at home, haven’t been here in daylight yet.
Katie tells me it’s very deep. Her Dad had to dig out several paths for her to do her jobs. She wants to know when we get to go on another adventure. I told her maybe tomorrow.
Or maybe I’ll just take a nap.
I don’t have much time, as I need to start my commute to work early…but I got an email last night from the Truck Safety Coalition asking for help opposing a bill. I’ll just cut and paste it here. If you can, contact your Senators to voice your opposition to Senate bill S-112 which would allow exemptions for trucks up to 100,000 pounds (normal trucks are limited to 80,000 pounds) on Maine and Vermont highways.
If you wonder why worrying about highways in Maine and Vermont effects YOU…well…if they get permission to drive there, they’ll work on the adjoining state, and then the next one, and then the next. So we’re trying to stop larger trucks NOW.
They’ve had a year of a “trial” period in these two states and they are trying to make that permanent. We’d like to see the trial end now. Below is what I received:
UPDATE: ACTION STILL NEEDED TO PREVENT EXEMPTIONS
January 31, 2011
UPDATE: Thank you for your efforts to keep a continuation of the Maine and Vermont one-year exemption to the federal truck weight limit out of the 2011 Appropriations Continuing Resolution. This victory is great news, but we must continue our efforts. Senator Collins just introduced a bill that would give Maine and Vermont permanent exemptions, S. 112. We also expect a major push for permanent exemptions when the Continuing Resolution expires on March 4th.
TAKE ACTION NOW: Please call or email your Senators and ask them to oppose S. 112 and any attempts to give Maine & Vermont permanent exemptions to federal truck weight limits. If these states are given exemptions, special trucking interests in neighboring states will then seek exemptions and soon there will be 100,000 lb. trucks throughout the country.
To contact your Senators, go to www.senate.gov and
in the top right corner, click on your state.
TALKING POINTS:
Heavier Trucks Mean Bigger Safety Problems
For More Information, contact the Truck Safety Coalition, 703-294-6404
Daphne’s son, his girlfriend and two other friends were killed many years ago when a truck driver ran over the top of them as they were sitting on the side of the freeway after having car trouble. One teenager survived. Daphne has spent her life since then making our roads safer. She lives in Maine. You can see her story on video at the Truck Safety Coalition website: http://www.trucksafety.org
I know this is rambling, but I have to go. It’s snowing out and I have a long commute. I’m probably staying in a hotel down near work tonight, so I won’t have access to anything. Everyone…stay safe during this storm. Stay off the roads if you can. Hugs to you all.
Change Is Hard 