Albuquerque Memories
By Scott Westerman
31 years. 11 moves.
Early in our marriage, I flirted with a career in the Air Force. We decided against it because we didn’t want to constantly uproot our family. “Life is what happens when you make other plans.”
Our travels have taken us across Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Florida and now, New Mexico. Each stop has challenged us and enriched us.
When I first set foot on desert soil here in the Southwest, I was immediately captivated.
From the Albuquerque Sunport on a sunny day you can see for miles. The sun climbs above the majestic Sandias every morning and sinks slowly across miles of mesa every evening. With earth tones abounding, even the smallest patch of green gets attention.
Our house was located in one of the few non-xeriscaped neighborhoods. Coming home to our small carpet of grass felt like you were witnessing photosynthesis for the first time.
The historic sights of Santa Fe, the rushing Rio Grande on the approach to Taos, the perpetual snowscape at White Sands, the cool forests of Cloudcroft and the sedimentary promontories at the Continental Divide on the way to Farmington… These are a few of the things that will be etched in our minds.
Like our Jacksonville experience, Albuquerque is populated with a wonderful mix of lifers and newcomers. We were immediately welcomed. And with Colleen in the house, deep friendships everywhere were inevitable. Even though electronic communication will keep us in touch across the miles, we will miss the smiling faces and direct interaction.
We’re excited about returning to Michigan. Our connections there are still strong and the prospect of contributing to our home state’s renaissance energizes us.
But every time we look toward the Southwest, we will think about Albuquerque.
And smile.
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