wiredgonzo

Visiting Mesa Verde National Park in my youth fueled my interest the history of the first people and of the southwest beyond the required subjects taught in New Mexico’s public schools. I had been to many ruins and museums in the southwest prior to my visit to Mesa Verde, yet somehow climbing the same cliffs as the ancients and viewing the land much as they may have seen it brought it all home and made the stories I had heard in school and artifacts I had seen in museums seem more real and tangible and at the same time; inspiring.

Mesa Verde, the park, was then, and I suspect is still now, a little known historical treasure that is well worth a visit of more than a day or two.

Why I want to go to New Mexico? The simple answer: it’s in my blood. I was born in the Land of Enchantment; my mind, my personality, my temperament was formed in the state’s unique dry environment. Dry as it is, my idiosyncrasies, (well most of them) were formed out of the attitudes and altitudes of the people and environment of the place.

My pallet judges all foods on a scale in relation to the ecstasy experienced by my tongue when I find the perfect spoonful of green chili stew, the warmth felt eating a homemade tamale made by a neighbor, or the surprising taste and earthly texture of a blue corn tortilla. All of these experiences were first introduced to my soul in my native Estado de Nuevo México.

Visually, the color pallet of my art and imagigination was mixed out of the amazing blues, reds, oranges, yellows and deep purples found in skies and amazing sunsets of the southwest My ideal vision of what a green should be, my appreciation of the many hues and variations of brown come from the mountains and deserts of New Mexico.

The joy I find in listening to music; everything from the Grateful Dead and Neil Young to Spanish guitar, bluegrass and even classical and jazz (to name a few) has its roots in growing up in Albuquerque and visiting nearby Santa Fe. New Mexican’s have a broader appreciation for all forms of music than few other western states ever aspire to. Of course, like many, my musical tastes have grown and changed as I move around and experience new things, but I credit the development of my openness to and broad range of my musical tastes to my growing up such a unique and multi-cultural state.

Why else do I need to go to New Mexico? Well, there is my family of course, both my extended family, many of who still live in the old home town, and my own family, who have only a limited experience with the place of my birth. Also, high on the list of reasons for going back is to see members of our extended family, of course. Intermixed with all of this, of course real reason I am aching to go back, and that is to introduce to my son, and reinvigorate myself with the magic of the sunsets, the mountains, deserts, the air and the amazing food and people of the Land of Enchantment.

Because it’s the place I see in my dreams.

The last time I visited Mesa Verde I was very young. It was probably 30 years ago, but it left an indelible impression on me. I had never been to a place in my life that held so much mystery and wonder to me. I had been to Chaco Canyon and other ancient native American archeological sites in my youth, but this place was and still is very special to me. All I could think about while I was there was what kind of life it must have been to be a young Native American buy my age as they did so long ago. I loved climbing the ladders and the cliffs and the trails and seeing the old living and spiritual sites. It was amazing. I have to go back, I want to take my family. I only hope that the place can still live up to my memories.

Because I’ve been there and it’s time to go back…

Why?Because Austin is the place I would want to be if I could be any place at all. I would be a place you could play or hear great music. I’d be fun to hang around, especially around 6th Street (not euphanisism, I swear). I’d be educated at UT and still kick your butt in football. I would be radical and still proud to wear a cowboy hat. I’d political kick ass in my long hair and cowboy boots at the Texas Legislature. Best of all I’d be happy pour you a tall cold beer and rustle you up some some great Tex Mex or BBQ.