My siblings visited us last weekend. I got to show off not only my New Mexico home, but a whole lot of cool stuff from our adopted (and very) enchanted state.
My brother Jeff, a talented wood artist and amateur astronomer took this gorgeous photograph of a rarely seen phenomena known as the “Zodiacal light” right outside my house at about 4 AM last Saturday. According to Jeff, it is a spot of light in space, opposite the earth from the sun. He said the only person he knew who’d ever seen it was a friend of his who saw it in New Zealand!
I’m so proud of New Mexico for delivering this astronomical “gift” to my little brother! Oh yes, he also heard a bugling elk during those wee hours…A true New Mexico mountain experience.
My other brother Alex, a fine artist from New York shared photos of his most recent work with his awed siblings. He is a retired painter of sets for Broadway and off Broadway shows. Now he devotes much of this time to painting and developing his own unique style. And traveling the world. What a lucky guy!
Holly and I got to spend some well-earned time together. Discussing family, her newly discovered talent as a water colorist, and of course teasing our “little brothers” mercilessly.
Ever hear of the amazing landscape painter Georgia O’Keefe? She lived in New Mexico for many years. Our mom loved O’Keefe’s work. So of course we “kids” made a pilgrimage to see her home. And took a bus tour that shared many of her most iconic spots, along with the paintings O’Keefe had done there. It was an incredible journey for us all.
No, it wasn’t a perfect weekend. I burned the sweet potato fries for Friday’s chile-cheeseburger dinner. The petroglyph walk near my home that I’d scheduled half a year earlier was canceled by rain. The trees in Taos had not yet turned their brilliant fall colors after traveling many miles there for Saturday evening.
But there were many un-looked for gifts. We had a lot of laughs, honing the quirky humor that saw us through our mutual and sometimes difficult childhood.
We met some genuine New Mexico characters. We ate at some authentic southwestern breakfast joints. Jeff got to tour the Taos Pueblo with Ed and me on Sunday, visiting and shopping with native craftspeople (including meeting their sweet dogs and cats.)
The weekend ended for me with a satisfying fullness. Like eating just enough of an incredible meal, knowing there will be even more later on. I don’t know about Holly, Alex and Jeff but I’m already half-planning our next get together!
How often do you see your family? And what kinds of things do you do together?
Your animal loving artist, Merry
