I think that my Mom’s spirit inhabits Danielle since she acts so much like mom in a quirky way and she loves spontaneous day trips. Sometimes the most amazing things arise out of seemingly nothingness or perhaps its because we are in tune with the Universe. Spontaneity often spawns these events.
One morning, as I was walking out of the bedroom, Danielle met me with a cup of hot coffee and said, “Let’s go have breakfast at the Ponderosa and then let’s go for a ride.” I agreed. These spontaneous adventures were something I looked forward to. Perhaps they reminded me of my childhood when my dad and mom would load my sister, Norma and I into the car for a Monday day trip. (Monday’s were my dad’s day off.) Norma and I would be at the small one room schoolhouse we attended. On Monday’s we would thrill at the sight of my folk’s car pulling up in front of the school. It meant we would be taken out of school for an adventure. Often a car ride up the coast for some spudnuts in Santa Barbara. (Don’t know what a spudnut is? Look it up!)
Danielle and I would get into our Ford Expedition and we would start driving. We often did not know where we would end up. It was the thrill of the open road. We would sometimes take a turnoff on a whim. “Hmmm, wonder what’s down the road? We’d soon find out and more often than not, we’d discover some very unusual things. But on this day, we were headed to the Ponderosa in Tijeras, New Mexico for breakfast.
It takes about 45 minutes to get to the Ponderosa. It is a restaurant built out of logs with a great breakfast menu. Furnished somewhat like a north woods lodge, but better, it has good food and lots of it. It is inviting from the outside. This great big log cabin with steps leading up to the door and fresh flowers hanging from baskets. Upon entering, the first thing we were hit with was the smell of frying bacon. What a great way to whet ones appetite. The interior exudes warmth with relics of the past and paintings depicting the 1800’s hanging from the walls. Lovely booths with golden pine wood tables and friendly waiters and patron. Even though folks don’t know each other, it is not unusual to be greeted warmly by those seated on our way to our table. No one would have been surprised if Paul Bunyan and Babe his blue ox stuck their head in the door. Nobody’s in a hurry, just a leisurely breakfast and good company. Oh, did I mention, I took off my watch that day?
Maybe because of the ambience that surrounded us or maybe because we were just hungry, but that breakfast was just perfect. Bacon and eggs cooked perfectly, the rye toast and the homemade strawberry jam. It was just perfect. Feeling very satisfied after several cups of hot coffee, good company, shared conversations, and full stomachs, we resumed our days journey. There is a lovely peace that accompanies us as we drive down the road. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the sky was an absolutely stunning blue contrasted by the puffy white clouds. The road we traveled was lined with tall pines and little traffic and is a road we often take to church on Sunday mornings. We enjoy the beauty of the trees, the very blue skies and puffy white clouds which seem to mirror our feelings as we joyfully drive along. It seems as if conversation flows easily and at times even in each others silence we seemed enshrined in special moments. As we drive along, there is a feeling of warmth and love in just being together. To be savored as fine wine and remembered so that later we can recall it as fond memories.
After breakfast, we drove up to Madrid, New Mexico. You may remember it was the town where a good portion of Wild Hogs was filmed. The film with John Travolta, Tim Allen, and Bill Lacy are riding their motorcycles on a guys adventure when they inadvertently are accosted by an outlaw motorcycle gang. Of course the good guys win. A fun movie and a really quaint town. Many of the shops have taken over the colorful historic homes in the town and are fun for browsing. A myriad of colors that one would not dream of putting together, but here they seem to work. Lots of antiques, homemade jams, local honey and handcrafted items ave available. People are friendly and it fun trying to find the perfect treasure to take home.
From there we took a turnoff to the right that said it went to Galisteo. Galisteo is a very small village with a Roman Catholic church and its cemetery. In New Mexico, it seems that every town, no matter how small has a Catholic church and cemetery. All of them made from adobe and most of them very, very old. Galisteo has no businesses, at least none that can be seen from Highway 41 where we made our next right as we slowly found our way back to Mountainair.
As Danielle and I meander the back-roads of New Mexico we sing, talk of every subject imaginable, and just enjoy the drive and the company.
Let’s look at another memorable day. On this spontaneous day trip we were just driving to no where in particular. As we meandered west on Highway 60 out of Mountainair, we came across a sign for the town of La Joya. “Let’s see where this road goes,” and we were off. The paved road ended about 9 miles from the turn-off. This was another itty-bitty town. Very few business, a few houses, a church and a schoolhouse, but otherwise somewhat deserted. As we drove slowly through this very tiny village, we came across an amazing piece of art. At first we were not sure what we were looking at. It looked like a downed tree but as we got closer we saw that it indeed was a downed tree but the roots had been carved to create an amazing depiction. Carved from the roots and trunk of this tree was a depiction of Jesus, the Christ, carrying the cross. It was such an impressive and overwhelming carving. It was both inspirational and motivating. Danielle and I got out of the car and stood in awe for quite a long time, taking in the overwhelming feeling that encompassed us as we took in this divinely inspired creation. It is in these special unplanned moments that we feel as if we were divinely led to this special experience.
When Danielle and I returned to our car, neither of us spoke for some time. We both remained in these moments of sacred reverence for several moments. As we compared notes on what we had just seen, we couldn’t stop talking about how the experience had affected each of us. A moment that remains with us to this day.
Michelangelo would say that he saw his masterpiece inside the uncarved block of marble. I think the same could be said for the artists who created these masterpieces.
This small town of La Joya receives very little traffic. Situated at the dead end of a road, nine miles from the nearest highway and only one way in and out, you can see that little traffic comes to this small village. These masterpieces were created for the few who live here and of course, as the divine imagination of the artist. There are only two or three businesses in the area and very little reason for anyone to come to this town, unless of course, it is on a day trip to nowhere with the one you love. No plans and no time limits. Just a glorious and wonderful day of meandering and discovering.
Spontaneous trips and the fun of discovering new things with people you love, and days filled with surprises!
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