Old Las Vegas Highway

Memorial...

Name-filled park:
Photos and biographies
of those who served
from New Mexico
recently lost.

Santa Fe Plaza.
Memorial Day weekend, 2008.

L's Last Day To Play In Santa Fe

Shady & Gringo's Howling Dog Bunkhouse
vacant again;
hoping to rustle up some more visitors...
M

Yesterday

A Note From A Friend Of A Friend

I correspond with another blogger, "Global Gal"
who lives in China, but is currently in the U.S.
visiting her family.
She had posted this note about a friend in China:


I have finally heard from my friend Ivy,
who lives just outside the capital city of Chengdu.
Fortunately, she and her family are safe,
although they’ve been forced to relocate their home
outdoors out of fear of the frequent small earthquakes
and aftershocks hitting the province.
She was at work when the big quake struck,
on the 7th floor of an office tower.
The shaking nearly threw her from the window,
but she was able to make it out
and home to be with her parents and dog.

The quake has not left her untouched, however. In her words:

These days, when I listened to the radio,
and watched the tv programmes, I shall cry.
There are lots of people that I know,
they were buried in the buildings,
till now we still can’t find them,
we don’t know whether they are still alive.
Sometimes, I even feel that I am still in a nightmare,
but the sound of helicopters as well as the ambulance
always remind me all these are true.

This is the biggest disaster
since our China is set up.
The number of the dead people
announced by our government is not true,
the real one is much much bigger than that.
You can’t imagine, when you walk in a city,
all you can smell is the dead body,
the dirty water,
the chemicals from the factory,
when you walk around,
you can find dead body everywhere…

thinking of this, i shall cry.

I am posting her words here
because they are so honest,
true and heartbreaking.
We all shall cry.
From the other side of the world,
all I can do is send out positive thoughts
and hope for miracles in the ongoing rescue efforts.
My thoughts are with you, Ivy and I am so sad for China today.

All I can do is pray
for hope
for China.
M

Dog Day

...Near the Santa Fe - Lafarge branch library.

Play

I work
with several young people and children
throughout the week,
and started thinking about when I was a kid.

I did not belong
to any organized sports teams when I was little:
Other than swimming lessons;
enough to swim and boat
and sail and ski safely in the Mississippi river,
one summer of tennis lessons;
enough to blast those little yellow balls out of the court,
and riding lessons;
enough to stay on that horse when needed,
fall safely off when needed,
and maybe work toward blue ribbons at the county fair...
My friends and I were on our own -
riding bikes, sledding, climbing trees,
playing in the river in summer,
and on the river in winter,
exploring hills, forests and fields
surrounding our homes.
My mom preferred us to be
"outside";
I do not have an extensive memory
of 60's, 70's, or 80's TV.
I remember riding my bike
a whole bunch;
gravel or dirt roads in my neighborhood,
and wonderfully smooth, paved
roads at my friend's houses.
Climbing trees was easier
at my house and surrounding fields:
Fruit trees;
(a great challenge for the edible targets),
and pine, cedar, willow, oak, and maple trees
were all attempted,
and most were conquered with minimal injuries.
But trees lining those
wonderful, paved streets
were younger,
and not strong enough to
offer a challenge to
professional tree climbers.
Hide and seek - at dusk;
with several kids of various ages
joining in
from a large neighborhood.
Playing in a friend's backyard pool (?)
an unusual experience to someone
who grew up with the Mississippi
as my back yard.
Tag.
Hop Scotch.
Swinging off a rope swing
over a quiet stretch of the river.
Throwing a stick
for a dog to fetch
(off the end of a dock...)
Sleeping under the stars
watching fireflys,
or lightning bugs -
same thing, I think.
Summer is coming...
Have you tried playing like a kid
lately?

What is your favorite game?
And do you still play?
Let me know.
M

Pink & Purple

#4 Favorites of 2007

Road Trip near Argenton-Chateau, France
and refurbished Monastery;
Hotel Santa Croce in Pisa, Italy
July & August 2007.




And yes, I know I've posted a few things today
but I have been awake since 6 a.m.,
and have a weekend conference to attend
in about 30 minutes...
This should be it for today.
M

#3 Favorites of 2007

Argenton-Chateau
17th August, 2007

6:11 A.M.

6:11 A.M.
Eleven minutes ago
he left for the airport
and I miss him.
Watching the sky turn golden
behind the mountains;
I look forward to
eight days passing quickly.
M

HIke