Coming Home
It took me a long time to refer to NM as home. Growing up in the Chicago area, and adoring big cities, Albuquerque has always felt like a decent place to live, with its incredible climate, reasonable cost of living, nice people, and just enough of everything you hope to find in a city. Only thing is, I still had not gotten over being a big city girl, and I found I needed to get out of here every now and then and travel about to get my fix.
But something shifted over the years. I still love to travel, except now when I pass that “Welcome to New Mexico” sign – bright yellow with red and green chili peppers – my heart skips a beat…I’m home. I’m excited. I feel contentment wash over me, and I’m so happy to be back home to my New Mexico.
I recently spent a beautiful day hanging out with my dad, driving a stretch of Rt. 66 from Gallup, NM to the Arizona boarder in search of treasure.
I not only found treasure in the form of a few fun photos, but also in the time talking with my dad, reminiscing, taking in beautiful vistas, meeting some great people (people are SO friendly here!), and even bringing home one of those old weathered Rt. 66 signs to put on display.
This city girl has been bit by the Land of Enchantment bug. The landscapes I used to find barren now look alive, the colors so vibrant, and places so nostalgic. The long-range views are now my solstice…you just feel yourself breathing deeper, relaxing, and settling in to a more laid-back way.
How could I not love it here.
-Mandy Herzog