Granite Dells

Postcard from the past circa 1974...

We two siblings sat among big rocks
staring, thinking, wondering
having one of those silent talks...

Cross-legged our young life at crosswalk
gazing, reflecting, pondering
what were soul marks of chalk...

Unexpectedly we had lost paternal building block
furrowing, growing, thundering
heads compelled to take stock...

After a short while we packed up eyeshades
knapsacks, water bottles and day hiked out
to years layered upon decades,
like boulders enduring without doubt
soon forgetting the fragility that pervades,
every breath taken could still phaseout.

I sit alone now surrounded by same rocks
contemplating, reasoning, pardoning
mortal life for being a ticking clock.

Chimera Rising

Stop to take water, regain senses, wait in shade...

Gleaming Arid Grassland

Windmill tanque de agua entre rocas...

Windmill water tank among boulders
watchtower over gleaming grassland
arid plain lit by cast of sun...

Volcanic Breakout

Standing boulders set within desert earthworks...

Scalable Heights

High Desert granite boulders in a dell...

Telegraph Butte

Making connections over to the next valley...

Telephone Pole and Wire

Strung through the crevice between buttes...

Postcard From The Edge

New frontier in the distance...

Saguaros In A Box Canyon

Enclave of ancient walls...

Nestled Among Boulders

Saquaro, Prickly Pear and Ocotillo...

Joshua Tree in the Muted Desert

Standing reposed in ancient native terrain...

2012 Social, Economic, Political

Lay a foundation of inner strength for the long haul... 

This past year was one that I certainly cannot say "it went by so fast" since for me it didn't. It was a dramatic year of magnificent highs and lows, replete with drama resolved, that I fully lived every day of. Snitching a phrase it was "a time for every season" and a cliche it was a "passage of life" with the conundrum puzzled out. What I learned in the past year, after figuring out I didn't know as much as I thought, provided guide stones for what will certainly be a tumultuous year for our country and world. Going through and beyond personal milestones and stumbling blocks provided a solid foundation to allow me to personally cope with a globe going out of control that I can do little about. I learned that the external social disruption, economic disaster and political turmoil of the past few years cannot derail me and that I have the internal will to survive what may come.

This year the change in society will become evident to everyone and few will be able to live in denial. The economic crackup that seemingly took a brief holiday last year will return full force and cause social, economic and political realms to change. We are in for a tough year when the recognition that the quick fixes didn't work will out of necessity fade into settling in for a long haul of change and restoration. It is the end of the world as we knew it but not the end of the world, rather the aurora of a new period in history. People will stumble and fall as well as survive and thrive. Our goal is through skills of inner strength overcome and creatively rise above the fray relatively unscathed. We are of little use to others if we are not capable of keeping ourselves tethered to the shore.

When the world around us is spinning off its axis it's critical to remind ourselves we have no control over it. While external events may affect us how we respond and cope with them is what matters. A great thing about getting older truly is getting wiser. To gain wisdom we must learn from our past mistakes and victories so we may burrow a strong foothold on the spinning top of earth and keep our feet planted in the ground so as not to fly off.

The easy road to problems and difficulties is avoidance and procrastination except that actually results in multiplying into more bad situations. Painful and demanding is the road that leads to breaking through hard times but the by-product is not only resolutions but also acquiring new coping skills. It is these skills that we build an inherent infrastructure to keep us rooted on terra firma to avoid being blown away by extraneous gales and headwinds. If you haven't already, start laying your foundation of readiness to calmly live through the tempest. If you already have then keep building.

Walking Suspended Over Water

Waterfall washing wall of Whitewalk Canyon...

Catwalk clinging to canyon walls built in mining era for water pipeline.

In the Desert

Where no one remembers your name...

Survive Like A Desert

Save and invest for the future...

In minimalism endure drought and thrive after the rainy season.

There is a lot to be learned from the desert. Millions of people whoosh by it on the Interstate on a journey from one place to the next viewing it as a vast wasteland to pass through as quickly as possible. They are unaware the desert is the ultimate example of ages of adaption of not merely surviving but thriving. Everything in the desert is put to good use, stored for when it is needed, an investment in the present and savings for the future to survive well in the harsh times and thrive in the good ones.

We could do well as people by learning how the desert survives hot dry summers with a sparse rainy season. When a summer storm comes it is a gully washer that seeps into the ground and every plant large and small has grown roots deep to pull in moisture for use and storage since it will soon be dry again. All types of animal life scurries about to either drink in the water or absorb the moisture for later use. In the winter seasons when the weather is cooler all creatures and plants, great and small, take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy what nature has provided them in abundance.

The lesson is desert plants and animals have learned to acclimate and change to the environment and make the best use of what is available. There is no complaint because everything that is needed is provided when it is needed. The inhabitants save and store for the future and invest by growing deep taproots and storage spots of water and food for the future. The desert is prepared to make the best of what it has and turn it into something of value, useful, functional and form with a beauty of its own.

Joshua Tree

Found what it is looking for...

Bury My Heart

At wounded tree...

City of Rocks

Boulders crafted by nature 35 million years ago...

There are only six places in the world with rock formations like these boulders and one is in New Mexico. Created by a huge explosion named after what it formed, the Kneeling Nun monolith, the volcanic ash was roughcast by wind, water and time leaving these stone monuments to sit in a grassland plain. They rise up in chimera as if ancient secrets are hidden in recesses with passages that wind around to wander and wonder if they hold some answer to an unknown question.

Over centuries people have sought shelter and protection among these geologic pinnacles from weather and animals of prey. Among them were the Mimbres Indians who left behind arrowheads, pottery shards and

mortars ground into the stone formations by pestling seeds into flour. The mortars are called "Indian Wells" since water collects in them after it rains. Apaches later came to the area. During the 1500s Spanish conquistadors passing by left carved crosses in the lava and soon after Spaniard settlers arrived. In the early 19th century mining began in nearby Santa Rita.

The area is rich in flora and fauna occupied by eagles and hawks, horned owls, roadrunners and cactus wrens. Squirrels, jackrabbits, packrats, mule deer, javelinas and coyotes call the area home where many types of snakes are also found alongside a wide variety of lizards. Yucca and ocotillo, barrel and hedgehog cacti, century plants and desert willow surround the rocks among the grama grass. Within the passageways of the rocks emory and gray oaks grow. A trail goes to a desert botanical garden.

The City of Rocks has been a New Mexico State Park since 1952. Located in the Mimbres Valley near Bayard. It is in the far reaches of the Chihuahuan desert at an elevation of 5200 feet with mild winters and warm

summers. The unique geography makes for imaginative exploration of the volcanic ash formations thrusting up into the air and trailing the surrounding area. Clear night sky star gazing chances an "ah ha!" moment on ancient pathways.

High Chaparral

Juniper and Pinon nestled in granite boulders...

Over The Hills

Through the Dells...