When I am asked if I have ever traveled outside the U.S., I typically answer, “No, but I’ve been to New Mexico.”
The landscape is so different than that of the east coast where I have lived all my life, enough so that to me, New Mexico does feel like a foreign land, despite the fact that I have been visiting family there since I was a teenager, even spending entire summers there. When I was there in May, I grew to hate that landscape, because on that trip I began to associate it with the death of Jane. New Mexico became a place of tragic death and I didn’t want to ever go back.
Of course those extreme emotions related to grief have eased with time, and really, I always knew that I would be going back, to welcome a new precious life, and to spend time with my dad, brothers and sisters, and two little nephews.
My sister Sarah and her husband Jim named their first daughter ‘Hannah Jane Marie’ in honor of Jane (Marie.)
Hannah was born at home about two weeks ago, and has been surrounded by love ever since.
(my apologies for not being a great newborn photographer!)
And while being in New Mexico in the absence of Jane was still very sad, I was once again able to recognize the beauty there. It was very good to be with my family, and see the healing that has taken place over the past months.
(my dad’s apple tree)
(my 16 y.o. brother Sam and his dogs-and yes there is debate over whether or not he should still be allowed his bottle but right now the bottle still wins. change is hard and he’s been through a lot this year 🙂
(they are sisters)
(nephew James, 22 y.o.sister Erin, cat Al)
(Al again)
(cat whose name I can’t remember…Lucy??)
Erin also resistant to change, finally agreed to sit at the table with me to paint with watercolors. She would have preferred to be watching t.v., but I got her to paint two pictures instead!
(a tiny fraction of my dad’s library. my book addiction is inherited.)
(View of Mt. Taylor from my sister’s house)
(and from my dad’s house)
Do you see the yellow patches on the mountain?
Here we are about halfway up, now you can really see the yellow.
Aspens!
Of the six days or so that I spent in New Mexico, only two hours were spent amongst the aspens on Mt. Taylor, but most of my photographs were taken during that time…
I definitely saw the beauty in New Mexico this trip!
p.s. I flew into Baltimore last night (flights in and out of BWI are always cheaper!) and Jonny arrived to get me with a van full of sleeping children around midnight. We got home about 2 a.m. and when Beatrix woke momentarily as I carried her upstairs she hugged my neck and exclaimed, “Mommy home!” So, yes, I am back, but I am tired!
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