 . . . and it was all kinds of Los Ojos Saloon, Kyoto Sushi & Steak House, Walatowa Pueblo, and Kiwanis Cabin amazingness.
Life is so worth living with these types of memories to be had.
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 Found this sweet flashback of hiking with family in Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, a rare moment made possible by my dear Dad who arranged this surprise family reunion. Hiking wasn't in the original plan but was a random afterthought since we were all there to surprise Mom on the celebration of their wedding anniversary. But being all antsy to get out and enjoy some New Mexico sightseeing, we found ourselves zipping up Sandia Mountain Peak via aerial tramway, then trekking up and around the mountains via the South Crest Trail and finally climbing up on top of Kiwanis Cabin, otherwise known as the Fred Flintstone House. The breathtaking view and feeling experienced while standing up there with Dad, nieces, son, & daughter was nothing less than stunningly unforgettable.
Repeat. Needed.  This photo was taken July 26, 2013 just minutes after my step-dad legally adopted me as his daughter at the Sandoval County Courthouse in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Clearly by my genuine smile you can see this was one of the happiest times of my life, one which shall never be forgotten. And since my birth father died within months before this event, I continue to feel blessed knowing I have a physical "Dad" in this world.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.  Not quite ready to return to reality after my New Mexican desert escape, I ventured out to attend Happy Hour with my favorite IT Team and feasted on this boatload of sushi. If there's anything better than seeing the amazing group of IT faces that I'd been missing over the past couple of weeks, it's eating cheap gourmet sushi and drinking half price wine at a local hot spot, HIRO 88. What a perfect way to come back down to earth after leaving it so unexpectedly.
 Park Ranger Steve was a valuable resource to me in my quest for petroglyphs on the Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail, complete with an info session on how former inhabitants grounded up stuff on this big flat rock. But not only did I find and learn more about petroglyphs in this hugely spiritual place, but I also sent up some of the biggest prayers I've ever prayed in my life. And upon returning back to Rio Rancho, I actually saw the fruits of my labor in action.
Hallelujah! But oddly, as I hiked back down from the volcanic rubble-y covered canyon to revert back into Jeep-mode, Walgreens sat there staring me in the face. Complete and total sacrilege seeing this clash of history versus modern culture sitting there right next to one another, but I'm not going to let that mess with all those prayers waiting to be answered. Nope.  In search of inner peace, I found myself at the top of Sandia Crest where I took this selfie along with some unbelievable pictures with my Nikon DSLR of the breathtaking view. The Sandia Mountains and aerial panoramic view of Albuquerque completely blew me away, and I left that enchanted place feeling a little more empowered. And not only was the actual visit magical, but winding in, out, and around the mountains in my parents' jeep was an unforgettable experience in itself.
Inner peace... channeled, at least.  This was me rocking and rolling around on the desert dunes after learning some extremely unsettling news about certain ruthlessness that had actually taken place. You do what you have to do, and I decided to take my frustration out this way. I made it back to the homestead ok but still miffed as ever.
Why?  This is precisely how my life perspective got kicked in the pants today - by riding on the back of my Dad's motorcycle through the scenic desert-y sands of New Mexico, pitstop for fry bread at Jemez Pueblo included. And now I'm feeling all adrenaline rushed with no desire of coming back down again, because who would, right? And I'm also left wondering...
How have I NOT been doing this all my life??? |
AuthorI am Brenda Swenson and sometimes I blog. Archives
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