Sending Some Paradise to You

Postcards from Paradise

September 4, 2011

I’ve never joined in on these Sunday postcards from paradise before. Thinking about how I feel like I’m in paradise now that I’ve completed my journey and have arrived safely at my destination of Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico, I thought it appropriate to wander over here and crow a little about how fortunate I am right now in my life.

I believe before I say anything further, I will tell you that Postcards From Paradise is another one of the heartwarming creations of Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon blog. (she’s really into hearts you know). The idea, in Rebecca’s words, is to simply “...throw a lifeline of beauty, leave a word of kindness on each others blogs and let the circle grow.”

So, I’m telling you now about my paradise, and I am sending the most positive energy I can muster and sending it to all of you, whether you’re participating in this event of not.

I left home last Wednesday and drove through the day and night and into the next day and arrived Thursday by dinnertime. I dozed off a couple of times in rest areas along the highway and grabbed short naps. I just didn’t want to stop, get a room, go into restaurants, eat meals. I wanted the road to come up and smack me between the eyes and get me to my destination.

First order of business was a soak at the Riverbend hot springs. I’ve been busy every day, but I’ll get another pass for the hot springs along the Rio Grande and soak as soon as I get some chores done.

I put my Triumph Scrambler on the back of my Ford Ranger and hauled it down with me. Like a friend following faithfully behind. Since I’ve been here, I haven’t even started the truck. It’s been the bike everywhere I go.

One thing about being on the road continuously is that you don’t sleep through the sunrise as is evident by this shot of  Ole Sol popping up in my side view mirror. You know you’re going West when the sun is behind you when it rises.

I started seeing the cacti in Western Kansas, but this one is closer to my destination in New Mexico.

So I’m here. Now what? Well, I have my beloved RV, Morph, For Sale. It has a listing on Craigslist in Las Cruces, NM. I have had a lot of calls, and even some people have come out to look at it. But no one has made a commitment to purchase as of yet. By the time this post goes to press, I have three scheduled appointments for people to see it, two on Sunday and another on Tuesday if it is still available.

I want to sell it because I made a different commitment for lodging here in Truth Or Consequences. I paid rent and security deposit down on a 1 bedroom apartment not more than one block from where the RV sits. It is a very clean cute place with a great private patio.

I just don’t want to be crawling around on my hands and knees hooking up electric, water and sewer and worrying about charging batteries, filling LP tanks and generally just fixing stuff that is bound to break down on a 26 year old recreational vehicle!

So, I will rent this space year around. The idea is to be here now for planned activities and return early in November. What makes this idea so paradisiacal, (I know, probably not even a word, but Hey! I used it, so maybe it is. I certainly would have said it if I were talking to you.), is that I walk buy this small compound every day that I am down here and have for over 20 years. 

It is called The Palms Apartments. I always looked at this place with its yellow adobe walls and bright blue trim and wanted to live here. Now I will do it. Fulfill a dream, do a bucket list event. I can’t say that I know how long this will last, but I did sign a six month lease.

Saturday, I rode my motorcycle to Hatch and attended the 40th Annual Chile Festival for a couple of hours. I believe I will go back down there today if the people who are coming to look at the RV get here and leave me some time for myself. I forgot my camera Saturday, so no photos from the Chile Fest. But the green chile was great, and so were the rellenos!

I stopped in at the Happy Belly Deli and reunited with people I have met on previous trips. That also happened at the Black Cat Books &Coffee. It was the highlight of the trip so far for the proprietor of the Black Cat to ask me, “Where have you been?” Like I belong here and she was wondering where I was. Cool. At least I thought so.

That’s it. Life’s simple pleasures. I miss the Grandkids terribly. But they can use a dose of time without Papa around, and so can I. It isn’t forever. I won’t be away long enough for them to forget me or stop loving me.

The same “missing you” with Mrs. Spadoman. She is totally on board for the apartment scenario and there is even talk of quitting her job within the next year. There is already a trip planned for later in September and we have also talked about a December journey down here to meet up. I think she signed up for Skype!

I offer my Paradise to anyone that needs it. I pray for Peace every day. Peace in the world, Peace in your lives and the lives of those you love, and Peace in your heart of hearts.

This doesn’t ever mean I ignore the problems in the world. I don’t tell you about my ‘happenings’ to brag or give you the raspberries for not having happiness if that is indeed the case. But in the spirit of a Postcard From Paradise, I am soaring and send that energy your way. Take what you need and leave the rest.

Peace to All