I had pondered it for a few months, but in the end, it was an impulse that launched me west from Albuquerque towards Gallup, New Mexico. Seeing recent photos taken by others of hot air balloons lingering over red rock walls gave me the shove I needed to hit the road Saturday morning. After...
Read more →It was decades ago that I left normal high school life and for a few periods each week, sat, broadly exposed, in a nearly empty classroom with three other students, trying to unravel the mysteries of advanced mathematics. Our teacher was a kind vagabond who chased a circuit around APS high schools. Mr. Mayhew...
Read more →Earlier this year, on the morning of April 25th, I awoke to an unusual sensation in my body. Both feet had an odd ache in them, like each was painfully reawakening from a long dip in icy water, a feeling which then morphed into a partially numbed, partially tingly condition that hung around for...
Read more →I was waiting for an answer For a sign or for a call For something to reaffirm that this had meant something after all But all I heard was the waiting Daily traffic on the street Summer heat evolving Into winter sleet Silence had its reasons Too deep to comprehend Too many words and...
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Last weekend I joined my parents on a short trip they had both been looking forward to taking for some time. Before COVID-19 hit, they were planning to return to Monument Valley for a stay- and then the world shut down for a year and some. In recent weeks, the Navajo Nation and its...
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I peaked out back behind the house this afternoon, and there sat this Cooper’s hawk on the wall. He gave me one shot, and then he flew off.
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Last weekend, the two most important events of the weekend occurred at my folk’s house, because my father turned 80, and my sister, her family, and I spent time twice visiting with him and my mom. I am so grateful I have my folks nearby to spend time with. Dad was born 144 days...
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Today started at 5:30 AM when I got up and turned on the stove to warm a cold burrito and started the coffeemaker. I fed the cats and dressed and then grabbed the burrito and a cup of the coffee and I turned off the kitchen stuff and then I was in my truck,...
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Along with so many others, my sister and her family opted to get out of town for a little escape this Independence Day weekend, and in a display of maturity, her younger son also opted, but in his case, he opted to not join his family and go out of town, which meant he...
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Yesterday was a meaningful day in the Welton household, for it was doctor day. For me, I finally was able to see, and meet, a new doctor that I can call my primary after my last primary, a nurse practitioner in the hospital system I use, decided to become more of an administrator in...
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My friend Chris and I took an opportunity to visit our old friend Steve up at his family’s cabin in Westcliffe, Colorado, this last weekend. The opportunity bubbled up quickly, albeit a month ago, when an idea became three yes’s, and a near future date was set. Chris and Steve and I have all...
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At 1:20 on Thursday afternoon, May 13th, I pulled out of my driveway and oriented my truck north on I-25, and started on an 8 day adventure. My trip took me principally to Lincoln, Nebraska, where I could join the rest of my family celebrating my niece Faith’s graduation from high school. Added into...
Read more →it is a peculiar place, when you find you don’t know whether you should weep for what came before, or for what lies ahead.
Read more →when i was young, i would ask why, until the day came that i knew why, i knew clearly why. and then i would ask when. in a short time, my when became who, and who, and who, for a long, long time, filling the minutes, and hours, and days, and weeks, and months,...
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Early Sunday afternoon, I had some time, so I set out towards a sunny west, originally planning to visit El Morro and see Juan de Oñate’s cursive on Inscription Rock. After a few long glances at the landscapes off of I-40 around Mesita, I called an audible and thought I’d stick around in this...
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Last Sunday, I had some free time, so it was a good day for another day trip. I knew I wanted to spend more time “with the birds”, so my primary goal was to head south and visit the Bernardo Waterfowl Area again at sunrise. After that, I figured I’d find somewhere else interesting...
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