I'm engaged in a long-distance love affair and my wife approves. Before your imagination engages in too much speculation about the nature of our marriage, I encourage you to "pump the brakes." My love affair is with New Mexico and it has existed since my first visit back in the early 1960's. I'm sure my love of native American art has something to do with it as does my interest in the history of the western U.S., but it runs deeper than that.
There is a quality to the light in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah that I have not found in any other place and it is magical. Since artists have been coming here for decades to work in the presence of this special light, my observation is less than groundbreaking. Still, each visit leaves me awestruck. Hearing the local meteorologist talk about "visibility of 70 miles" always brings a smile to my face. I don't recall hearing that in Florida.
Then there are the things I just don't see anywhere else like the scene above. I got off the Interstate to explore a bit of the countryside and found this outside San Acacia. The juxtaposition of the hanging chiles and laundry was too good to pass. Look closely and you'll find a pair of "tighty whities" among the tube socks.
I'm going back to New Mexico at the end of April and am taking my brother-in-law. I hope Marilyn is as understanding as Monica if he falls in love with the place like I have.
