An Attitude of Gratitude

I’m ba-ack!  Back in Santa Fe!  Living in my teeny tiny casita with my less than teeny tiny dog.  And I am oh so grateful to be here!  As I type this, I am drinking my morning coffee with the windows open and the cool breeze wafting the sounds…and the dust…of the neighborhood in.  I have ever so slowly begun to furnish my new home…and have none of the household staples that we tend to rely on (spices, tools, a broom) and really no storage…and there is not a level surface to be found…but I must say, I feel wonderfully right at home.

In this gratitude stream I am basking in, not only am I grateful to be here, I am also grateful for the journey and for all those who helped me along the way.    

I am so thankful for all my family and friends who did not say “have you lost your mind??” when I said I was moving to Santa Fe, even though they may have thought it.  My fabulous sons came back with “go Mom (actually Ma or Momma, depending on the son)!!”; Gail the Magnificent said, “You know, I’ve never been to Santa Fe” with the unsaid but understood first of many trips to be planned and soon; Susan the Sensational, who foresaw my move west a year ago, said (albeit through tears), “you let me know as soon as you get a place ‘cause I’m coming to visit!”;  my Primo Parents were I think a bit disappointed, but immediately began thinking of what resources they could provide (“Do you have enough towels?  You’re going to need towels.  Here, take some towels”).

That was the reaction, then came the journey. 

Gail was witness to and compassionate toward the initial Great Dane Freak-out.  She helped me focus, reminding me of the limited capacity of my car-with-dog (No Debi, you have no room for your Cuisinart!).  She was wonderful and fun as she always is, and I am so grateful she is my friend.

On to Charleston (the city) with Charleston (the dog)…his first trip out of Florida, by the way.  My parents are not used to having a giant dog who can go nose-to-nose with my Mom pacing around.  They were lovely and generous, and I believe they may have even (briefly) missed the dog when we left!

Next stop was Cary, NC, and the introduction of the old dog to the new puppy, giving them and us plenty of excitement and exercise.  My sister and her family are always welcoming and wonderful, and they made us at home in a house filled with laughter and love.

And then, one long rainy day later, Charleston and I arrived in Nashville, to the 2nd story apartment of my awesome son Daniel.  Daniel…Gabriel…FootLoose…he is a man of many names and has long been my hero.  He had signed on to drive his eager Mom and her reluctant dog across country over the next 2 days…through Nashville traffic and the rainy green of Tennessee, on to awful Arkansas – the land of giant churches, endless road construction and only 2 open rest areas in the entire state (hence, the awful designation), then through OHHHklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain (and yes, I burst into song and he tolerated), through the wee spit of Texas on I-40, which actually has some pretty vistas complete with giant windmills, then finally…FINALLY!  New Mexico!  After 2 days in the car with his Mom and a Great Dane who preferred to have his heavy head resting on the driver’s arm, I think Daniel was happier to see the state line than I was!  

Daniel stayed on for the rest of the week, helping Charleston and me settle in and patiently driving me all over town looking for household essentials.  We walked around town and played tourist, explored the hills and their amazing views and spent a day up around Taos.  We saw beautiful and funky things, ate really good food and had long talks with much laughter.  We have not had this amount of quality time to spend with each other…just us…in a long, long time, and for this I am most grateful.

Each morning I wake up to birds chirping and light streaming through my window.  I look around my little home and it makes me smile.  Each day is a new adventure for me in Santa Fe.  It feels magical and grace-filled, with the sense that something wonderful is around every corner.  I am happy and relaxed, and filled with an attitude of gratitude.

 

The Greatest of Danes

Have you ever taken a road trip with a Great Dane?  A really LONG road trip?
If you ever met my sweet dog Charleston you know he is a bit neurotic.  He gets kind of freaked out when something in his little world changes.  He likes his yard and his crate and his fairly regular meal times....
Then Mom goes off on a wild hair and travels for 2 months...leaving him in the very loving and capable hands of the fabulous folks at Stuart Sound Animal Hospital.  He had a luxury suite with a view, complete with his own tempur-pedic bed, gourmet food, regular baths, treats and check ups.  But after a while, he'd had enough and went on a hunger strike, demanding the return of his errant Mother.  And it worked!  She came back!  Mom!!  Where have you been?!!  I missed you so much!!  OK, I forgive you...take me back to my yard now. 
Whaddya mean we aren't going back?
Where the heck are you taking me??
After about 48 hours of total freak-out, Charleston transformed into Super Trooper.  He hit the road with me and made himself at home in 5 new and different stop-overs on our way to our new home, the teeny tiny casita in Santa Fe.  He has rallied through laundry rooms, backyard snakes (actually, I'm the one who freaked out about that), grandfather clocks that chime every 15 minutes, stairs, enthusiastic Aussie puppy herding practice, bloody paws and still more stairs.  He has spent countless hours in the back seat of my car, endured paparazzi at every rest area, and is now snoozing in his very first hotel room (ok, it's not the Ritz, but he doesn't know that). 
Charleston has been an awesome if reluctant traveler through 7 states so far.  As long as he is close to his peeps and can rest his head on a shoulder from time to time, he travels much better than I ever expected.  We have one more long day ahead of us and then we can get off the road and start making our home in New Mexico.  Charleston may not realize it yet, but he is as ready for it as I am.

A Reluctant Start

Cousins - a rare quiet moment

Are we there yet?